Tanzania: Draft Constitution silent on death penalty

Dar es Salaam. Despite assurances by the minister for Constitutional and Legal Affairs, before the 7th international meeting of justice ministers at the end of last year, that Tanzania would use the process of re-writing its constitution to review the death penalty, the draft of the new document is mum on the matter.

Speaking during the meeting which was held in Rome at the end of last year, Mr Mathias Chikawe, stressed that the decision to abolish the penalty would be reached after Tanzanians have had a say on the matter. He noted that with the Constitutional Review Process, Tanzanians were expected to air their views on the death penalty.

However, the draft which was revealed on Monday has not said anything about the death penalty. According to the draft, every person has the right to live and be protected by the society in accordance with the law.

Those who called for abolishment of the maximum penalty wanted the new constitution to state clearly that every person has the right to live and make sure that the right isn’t violated through laws that impose the death penalty on Tanzanians.

The failure to say anything with regard to the abolishment of the death penalty is likely to spark fireworks during the constitutional assemblies as most of wananchi are keen to make sure that it is abolished.

Source: http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/News/Draft-law-silent-on-death-penalty/-/1840392/1874584/-/6j4jhg/-/index.html