The European Union welcomes the abolition of the death penalty in Zimbabwe. With this historic step, Zimbabwe joins the majority of countries in the world having eliminated the capital punishment. Zimbabwe had maintained a moratorium on the death penalty since the last execution in 2005.

The European Union calls on Zimbabwe to take a further step by removing the provision allowing for the temporary reintroduction of the death penalty during a state of public emergency.

The death penalty is incompatible with the inalienable right to life and a cruel and inhuman punishment, representing an unacceptable denial of human dignity and integrity. No compelling evidence exists to show that it serves as a deterrent to crime, while any miscarriages of justice are irreversible.

The European Union strongly opposes the death penalty in all cases and all circumstances and will continue to work for its abolition in the remaining countries where it is still in force.