A French -speaking ambassador helped Zimbabwe abolish the death penalty

In 2024, 1518 people were put to death in the world. A record since 2015. According to Amnesty Internationalthe number of executions has increased in recent years, while the number of countries that apply the death penalty decreases. This is also the case in Zimbabwe since December 31, 2024. And it is partly thanks to Switzerland and more particularly thanks to a Romand. Back on this fruitful closed door.

Helvetic discretion

The abolition of the death penalty is a priority of “Foreign policy strategyFrom Switzerland, symbol of the humanitarian action of the Confederation. Diplomatic work almost always takes place behind the scenes. However, on March 4, the general prosecutor of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Virginia Mabiza, lifted the veil on negotiations. It was during a round table organized within the framework of the United Nations Human rights Council: “I would like to mention the Swiss Embassy, ​​which tirelessly contributed to the abolition of the death penalty in Zimbabwe.”

The Swiss ambassador on the spot, Stéphane Rey, played a decisive role in the process: “It is rather unusual that a country mentions the Swiss contribution as elogiously, reacted the Friborg. We can only rejoice. It is because we remain discreet on these discussions that we arrive at this kind of success. We do not make diplomacy on Twitter. ” What does Switzerland do? To better understand the context, a historical overview.

One hundred and five death penalties in twenty-five years

It is Robert Mugabe which was at its head between 1987 and 2017. He decided the fate of the 15 million inhabitants of the country for more than thirty years, establishing an authoritarian regime with, in the key, famine, hyperinflation and human rights violations.

Between 1980 and 2005, the diet executed 105 people. They are still 48 waiting in the death corridor. International statistics have shown that as long as the death penalty has not been officially abolished, practice can resume. This is what happened in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which announced the resumption of executions after an interruption of two decades.

Politically, the situation in Zimbabwe has been somewhat peaceful in recent years. Reforms have been launched. But the tendency to autocracy remains. The economy of this country in southern Africa is still at half mast. Its slate amounts to $ 21 billion. The main creditors are the United States, Great Britain and the EU. The state undertakes to implement reforms to lighten the burden of its debt.

This is where Swiss diplomacy occurs. “Barbecue diplomacy”, as Stéphane Rey calls it. It comes down to many exchanges and informal meetings. “The decisive part of our support consisted in showing political figures that the abolition of the death penalty is in the interest of their country.”

Compensation of Swiss farmers expropriated

The ambassador linked this file to another case in which Switzerland had interests. It is an agrarian reform. Long considered as the wheat attic of southern Africa, Zimbabwe has experienced several years of catastrophic harvests under the Mugabe era and the expropriation of around 4,000 white farmers. Among them, a dozen Swiss peasants. The latter have fought for years to obtain compensation. Last fall, an agreement was finally reached.

As co -president of a working group on agrarian reform, Stéphane Rey obtained direct access to decision -makers. This is how he found a solution for Swiss peasants. In all, 27 farms are part of the agreement. The former owners received $ 215,000 per operation.

Discussions with local actors

Another key player in the success of these negotiations: non -governmental organization Centre for Applied Legal Research in Harare, capital of Zimbabwe. The organization co -financed by Switzerland played a leading role by serving as a gateway to access senior state officials. Lawyer Nyasha Chishakwe works for the organization. “Zimbabwe is a country very sensitive to foreign interference. What matters is that Berne and his special envoy have found their own path. ”

Stéphane Rey and Nyasha Chishakwe organized meetings in ten provinces with local actors. They notably explained that the death penalty had little influence on delinquency and that it was a colonial heritage of the British. It only took three years to abolish the death penalty in Zimbabwe, despite its many supporters among the population.

“It is for our country one of the greatest advances in human rights in years,” said lawyer Nyasha Chishakwe. This development is completely representative of sub -Saharan Africa. Over the past two years, only Somalia has carried out executions.

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