Lusaka – Zambia’s President Hakainde “HH” Hichilema has put an end to the death penalty and the archaic law that makes it a crime to insult the presidency.
“President Hakainde Hichilema has assented to the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill number 25 of 2022 abolishing the imposition of the death penalty in the Republic of Zambia, and the offence of Criminal Defamation of the President, which have been on the Zambian statute books since the pre-independence years,” Presidential Spokesperson Anthony Bwalya said in a statement released Friday.
Bwalya said the move was in line with the “President’s unwavering commitment to amend all archaic undemocratic laws”.
Hichilema, who only became President of Zambia last year on 24 August, has already made impressive strides towards improving the lives of Zambians.
During his election campaign, HH promised Zambians more freedom as part of the vision for democracy and good governance.
Rights body, Amnesty International, said it “welcomes” the abolishment of the death penalty in Zambia.
