Bernard Mazhandu Mucheka heard his sentence on March 20, 2019 — death by hanging. He burned down his former lover's home after she ended their relationship when she found out he had a secret wife. Mucheka waited until midnight, poured gasoline around the house, and set it on fire as everyone slept inside. The blaze killed Lorraine Mutetwa and three of her children. Four other kids survived with burns covering up to 42 percent of their bodies.
Judge Esther Muremba called the crime heinous and planned. She saw no remorse from Mucheka for the pain he caused. The court gave him the death penalty under Zimbabwe's criminal law. Five years later, Zimbabwe took a major step forward and scrapped the death penalty completely. This change helped many people facing execution, as Zimbabwe joined other African nations moving away from capital punishment.
No executions have happened in Zimbabwe since 2005 despite courts still giving death sentences. President Mnangagwa backed the change, having been on death row himself during the fight for independence. Mucheka will serve four life terms instead of being hanged. His case shows how justice has changed in Zimbabwe, from punishment to rehabilitation.
Judge Esther Muremba called the crime heinous and planned. She saw no remorse from Mucheka for the pain he caused. The court gave him the death penalty under Zimbabwe's criminal law. Five years later, Zimbabwe took a major step forward and scrapped the death penalty completely. This change helped many people facing execution, as Zimbabwe joined other African nations moving away from capital punishment.
No executions have happened in Zimbabwe since 2005 despite courts still giving death sentences. President Mnangagwa backed the change, having been on death row himself during the fight for independence. Mucheka will serve four life terms instead of being hanged. His case shows how justice has changed in Zimbabwe, from punishment to rehabilitation.
