Capital punishment in Zambia

Capital punishment was a legal penalty in Zambia until 2022. Despite its former legality, the country had not carried out any execution since 1997. Zambia was considered "Abolitionist in Practice". ^[1]

There were at least 9 new death sentences in Zambia in 2021. 257 people were on death row at the end of 2021. ^[2]

On 25 May 2022, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema announced that the death penalty would soon be abolished in Zambia. ^{[3] [4]}

On 23 December 2022, capital punishment was officially abolished, though it remained in some military statutes. ^[5] These statutes were amended to fully remove capital punishment from courts martial in the Defense (Amendment) Act signed into law on 22 December 2023. ^[6]

On 19 December 2024, Zambia acceded to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. ^[7]

References

1. "Abolitionist and retentionist countries (as of July 2018)". Amnesty International. 23 October 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
2. "Death sentences and executions 2021". Amnesty International. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
3. "Zambia, Central African Republic Move to Abolish Death Penalty". Death Penalty Information Center. 31 May 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
4. "Rights office welcomes Zambia's pledge to abolish the death penalty". United Nations. 27 May 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
5. "Zambia abolishes the death penalty". The Bangkok Post . 23 December 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
6. "ZAMBIA BECOMES PARTY TO THE SECOND OPTIONAL PROTOCOL ON THE ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY - Zambia Mission - New York". 2024-12-20. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
7. "Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty". Treaties UN. United Nations Treaty Collection. Retrieved 14 January 2025.