- More than half (55%) of Zimbabweans say the death penalty is a fair punishment for those who commit the most serious crimes, such as murder, while 44% believe there is no crime for which the death penalty can be justified (Figure 1).
- Citizens with less education (58%) and the poorest respondents (60%) are more likely to support the death penalty than their more educated (55%) and better-off counterparts (53%-54%) (Figure 2). o CCC supporters (61%) are also more likely to support the death penalty (Figure 3). o Residents of Harare (63%) and Bulawayo/Mat South/Mat North (62%) are more likely to support this position as well (Figure 4).
- Regarding sentencing for crime in general, more than half (53%) of citizens say that punishments for ordinary people are about right, while 31% say they are too harsh. One-tenth (9%) of respondents believe that ordinary people who commit crime are not punished severely enough (Figure 5).
- In contrast, more than half (56%) of Zimbabweans believe that sentences for political leaders, government officials, and other powerful people wo commit crimes are too lenient, while one-third (34%) believe they’re about right. Only 7% say they are too harsh.
More than half of Zimbabweans support the death penalty for people who have committed the most serious crimes, such as murder, a new Afrobarometer survey indicates.
Support for the death penalty is consistent across key demographic groups and is particularly strong among residents of Harare and Bulawayo/Mat South/Mat North.
On a separate question regarding the appropriateness of sentences handed down for crimes in general, a majority of Zimbabweans say penalties for ordinary citizens who commit crimes are about right, while a similar proportion say penalties for political leaders, government officials, and other powerful people are too lenient.
Contact
Language
Keywords
Countries
Regions