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Transcript/ScriptZIMBABWE DEATH SENTENCE (TVR)
HEADLINE: Zimbabwean Parliament consulting citizens on abolishing death penalty
TEASER:
PUBLISHED: 05/06/2023, 7:17p
BYLINE: Columbus Mavhunga
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Bindura, Zimbabwe
VIDEOGRAPHER: Columbus Mavhunga
ASSIGNING EDITOR: Penny Dixon
VIDEO EDITOR:
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Reifenrath; caw, sv (bal)
VIDEO SOURCE: VOA Original,
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _X_
TRT: 2:45
VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrath
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES: Please send script/questions to: columbuszim@gmail.com))
((INTRO:)) [[ Zimbabwe's parliament has started nationwide consultations after the
Cabinet in February agreed to abolish the death penalty to conform with international
standards. Columbus Mavhunga has the story from a public hearing in Bindura,
Zimbabwe. ]]
((NARRATOR))
Bindura, Zimbabwe. A crime-riddled mining town about 100 kilometers from the capital,
Harare, and the site of a recent public hearing on the death penalty.
Zimbabwe’s parliament hopes citizens will support the bill abolishing the death penalty
for crimes such as aggravated murder and treason.
Energy Mutodi heads the parliament’s justice committee, which is leading the hearings.
[[radio: He says the people have spoken. They are coming up with different views.
Some are for the idea that the death penalty must be removed. Some are saying it must
remain in the constitution as a deterrent measure.”]]
((Energy Mutodi, Zimbabwe Parliament Justice Committee ((male, English))
“The people have spoken. They are coming up with different views. Some are for the
idea that the death penalty must be removed. Some are saying it must remain in the
constitution as a deterrent measure.”
((NARRATOR))
Those against the death penalty, like Tinei Mashone, say the punishment is too harsh
and archaic.
[[radio: He says if you look at the constitution, it protects women from the death
sentence, but he and others are pushing for equality. He says that is the basis of
constitutionalism and democracy, so there is a bias there. He supports the new bill so
that people can be corrected. Zimbabwe cannot solve violence with violence,he says.]
((Tinei Mashone, Against the Death Penalty)) ((male Shona 21 sec))
“If you look at our constitution, it protects women from the death sentence. But we are
pushing for equality. That is the basis of constitutionalism and democracy — so there is
a bias there. So I am in support of the new bill. It should pass so that we can correct
people. We cannot solve violence with violence.”
((NARRATOR))
Amnesty International says it hopes Zimbabweans support the proposed law to end the
death sentence.
[[radio: Tinashe Mujuru is a campaigner at Amnesty International Zimbabwe. ]]
((Tinashe Mujuru, Amnesty International Zimbabwe)) ((male, Eng))
“Once it’s done, it’s done, and if someone is is wrongly accused, we cannot then take
that life back. Two, we are saying this law is a colonial relic that came with white
colonialists, and they were using the death penalty to oppress the Black majority. So,
we are saying: why are we still inheriting something that was being used against us, as
the Black majority?”
((NARRATOR))
Some participants at the hearing said they are seeing people who killed their relatives
walking scot-free. Some Zimbabweans called for imposing the death sentence on
rapists and those who commit violent crimes like robbery.
[[radio: One of them is Nomvuyo Nedi. She says she disagrees with abolishing the
death penalty because some people are pardoned after serving five years and released.
She says right now, shee sees the person who killed her brother walking freely. What
should she do? If there is no hangman, you can hire her, she says.]]
((Nomvuyo Nedi, Supports Death Penalty)) ((female? Shona 20 sec))
“I disagree (with death penalty abolition) because some are pardoned after serving five
years and released. Right now, I see the person who killed my brother – walking freely.
What should I do? If there is no hangman, you can hire me!”
((NARRATOR))
The last execution in Zimbabwe took place in 2005, and death penalty opponent
President Emmerson Mnangagwa last month commuted the death row sentences for
some prisoners to that of life imprisonment.
((Columbus Mavhunga, VOA News, Bindura, Zimbabwe))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
Subtitles / Dubbing AvailableNo
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateMay 6, 2024 19:45 EDT
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
