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 The issue of capital punishment remains contentious in Zimbabwe with society largely divided on whether it is the most effective way of preventing the commission of serious crimes such as murder.
Even as the nation eagerly awaits the completion of a new look supreme law to govern the daily affairs of the state and their lives for posterity, the death penalty is one of the sticking issues which the political parties within the inclusive government remain divided on.
The bone of contention being whether condemning a person to death for heinous crimes is in itself the most suitable way of punishing offenders.
People also have different views with some condemning capital punishment whilst others contend it is the best way to punish murderers.
Statistics from police indicate that cases of murder slightly went down from 634 in 2010 to 549 recorded in 2011.
However, Legal practitioner, Dumisani Mthombeni says world over experts agree that capital punishment or heavy prison terms are not deterring people from committing murder and other serious crimes.
He added that the law in Zimbabwe does not operate in retrospect, hence if capital punishment is to be abolished, the more than 50 convicted and condemned people on death row will not escape the noose.
On the other hand, traditionalists say capital punishment is a result of a borrowed legal system, arguing that the general African judiciary system was largely compensatory in nature.
Studies on different countries have not been conclusive with South Africa which has abolished the death penalty still recording high figures of murder cases, while the US which has capital punishment also still records alarming murder figures.
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