There was debate the worldover whether governments should outlaw or retain the death penalty. Those opposed to it say there is no evidence that capital punishment has succeeded to deter major crimes, including murder. In Tanzania, murder and high treason are the only offences punishable by death. Although there have been calls from human rights organisations for scrapping the penalty, the government has remained reluctant to outlaw it. Below are comments from our readers.

Neither Arnold Temba, Dar es Salaam
Instead of being myopic, one should try to ask oneself whether abolishing the death penalty is really a priority for Tanzania now. We are quite informed that death by hanging has never been practiced in Tanzania since 1992. So why bother?

Anonymous reader via SMS
Legislators should practice what they preach. To my belief, capital punishment should be abolished. If Tanzania condemns the killing of rebelious army that killed many people without trial, why does it continue killing people through capital punishment passed by our courts?

Steve, Dar es Salaam
Death penalty should be abolished and life sentence may be applied for those who committed heinous crimes, including murder.

Anonymous via SMS
I think the capital punishment should not be abolished and instead, it should be practiced, especially in countries like Tanzania where corruption and crimes are rampant as leaders prioritise their personal interests and forgetting about patriotism.

Kapulu, Dar es Salaam
All convicts of murder should be hanged. That is the only justice those who killed in cold blood could get. Of course, in some cases, few innocent people could have been wrongly convicted, but majority of the death row inmates deserve the sentence.

Paul Mzungute, Arusha
Death penalty should continue to be meted out to people convicted of murder and other criminal offences that merit the punishment. If somebody becomes so cruel and turns beastly to take somebody's life, the same should be done to him; death by hanging. People found guilty of murder should also suffer the same to deter others who may be harbouring such intentions.

Innocent Mushi, Dar es Salaam
Anyone who is prepared to kill must be prepared to die. And that punishment must be vigorously enforced. For instance, would someone be ready to forgive a person who slaughters other people?
There are few cases of manslaughter, which I think offenders must be considered for an alternative sentence, but not murder.

In China, people who are convicted of corruption are sentenced to death or sent to gallows. We should not allow our people to commit such heinous offences under the pretext of human rights. Human rights have limits too.
I am of the opinion that we retain capital punishment and implement it rigorously. On the other hand, the most important thing is that the court must be satisfied with the evidence beyond reasonable doubt before convicting and sentencing somebody to death.

I think those who oppose the capital punishment have not witnessed and felt how painful murder is. Even the holy books have warned that the sword will kill one who kills by the sword.

Lusako Mwang’onda, Bwibuka Village, Tukuyu, Mbeya
I completely oppose the death penalty due to the fact that it is against the 1977 Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania.The right to life is enshrined in our Constitution, which must be respected at all cost. In this case, capital punishment is unconstitutional.

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