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Public verdict on abolition of death penalty due May
2008-03-19 09:24:49
By Rose Mwalongo
A final report containing public views on whether or not the death penalty should be abolished in Tanzania will be out by May this year.
Law Reform Commission executive secretary Crecensia Makuru told 'The Guardian` in an interview in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
``We have been collecting views from wananchi. We will conduct a consultative workshop with stakeholders on March 27. We would like them to contribute to the report before we compile a final report. If all goes well the report will be out by May, this year,`` said Makuru.
Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Mathias Chikawe said the government had assigned the commission to collect views from the people in Zanzibar and on the Mainland, saying the issue was sensitive and thus needed critical analysis before reaching a conclusion.
``There are mixed feelings on capital punishment. The issue is sensitive as it touches people`s lives. An earlier survey indicated that most people wished the death penalty to remain. We have not hanged anyone in recent years but let people know that taking one`s life would mean a resultant death penalty and this would act as a deterrent. All in all, wananchi will air their views and we will work on them,`` the minister clarified.
Human rights activists have been putting pressure on the government to ratify the convention against torture, and hence abolish the death penalty.
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