After months of debate in Parliament, Zimbabwe has put an end to the implementation of the death penalty. The country has opted to impose long prison sentences for the most serious crimes.
Zimbabwean authorities have passed a parliamentary bill presented last year to the National Assembly to abolish the death penalty inherited from the British colonial regime.
"Given the need to maintain a deterrent element in the punishment of murderers, it is expected that the new law will impose long sentences without violating the right to life," the government said in a statement.
"However, the existence of aggravating circumstances may result in life sentences," the government clarified.
Zimbabwe carried out its last execution in 2005.