Zambia to review death penalty, constitution

Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa has appointed a commission to review the constitution and advise on whether to abolish the death penalty, presidential aides said on Saturday.

The 41-member commission will collect the views of Zambians on the type of constitution they want and hand their report, including a new draft constitution, to Mwanawasa within 12 months.

Businessman Wila Mung'omba will chair the commission, which comprises prominent lawyers, opposition and ruling party politicians, journalists and civil rights activists.

"The team will review the constitution and give Zambians the constitution they want," an aide quoted Mwanawasa as saying.

The last constitutional review in Zambia was held in 1995.

That led to provisions barring anyone whose parents were born outside Zambia from contesting the presidency.

As a result founding president Kenneth Kaunda, who ruled the country for 27 years until 1991, was effectively banned from running in 1996 because his parents originated from Malawi.

Analysts say the 1995 changes also sowed confusion by failing to set out what must happen should the supreme court find vote rigging in presidential elections.

The law says the supreme court can entertain a petition or challenge, but offers no further guidance.

Opposition politicians are challenging Mwanawasa's 2001 presidential elections triumph, citing massive irregularities.

Mwanawasa said he specifically wanted the commission to issue an edict on the future of the death penalty, which is strongly opposed by activists.

Dozens of people convicted of treason after an aborted 1997 coup are still on death row in Zambia, where the death penalty has not been carried out for years.