News Africa
Malawi apex court scraps ‘unconstitutional’ death penalty
Malawi’s highest court on Wednesday outlawed the death penalty and ordered the re-sentencing of all convicts facing execution.
Capital punishment has long been mandatory in Malawi for prisoners convicted of murder or treason, and optional for rape.
Violent robberies, house break-ins and burglaries could also be punishable by death or life imprisonment.
Executions have however not been carried out since Malawi’s first democratically elected president, Bakili Muluzi, opposed the punishment when he took office in 1994.
In a landmark ruling on Wednesday, Supreme Court judges hearing an appeal by a murder convict declared the death penalty “unconstitutional”, de facto abolishing the punishment.
“The death penalty… is tainted by the unconstitutionality discussed,” the judgement said.
Malawi last executed around two dozen prisoners in 1992, according to Amnesty International.
More than 30 countries in Africa still have the death penalty on their books, but just under half have carried out executions in recent years.
Source: theeastafrican.co.ke
-
Lifestyle3 weeks ago
Road Safety Authority narrates how buttocks causes road accident
-
GENERAL NEWS1 month ago
Why 15 police officers stormed Owusu Bempah’s church – Kumchacha narrates
-
GENERAL NEWS3 weeks ago
Watch how Ibrahim Mahama rode Honda superbike to pay last respects to late friend
-
GENERAL NEWS4 weeks ago
How Offinso residents storm destooled queen mother’s house, demand for new chief
-
South Africa News4 weeks ago
Woman thrown out of a speeding taxi while on her way to work
-
GENERAL NEWS6 days ago
Deadly clash between youth and navy personnel results in two deaths at Tema Manhean
-
SHOWBIZ KONKONSAH1 week ago
Junior Pope’s Death: Video of John Dumelo refusing to join canoe for movie shoot over safety concerns resurfaces
-
News Africa2 months ago
‘Satanically dubious’ – SCOAN releases statement on BBC’s report about TB Joshua, church