On the occasion of Africa Day, President of Zambia Hakainde Hichilema announced his plans to completely abolish the death penalty row. It was a historic announcement and was met with critical support amid a few criticisms. Dr. Rajan Lekhraj Mahtani, a noted businessman, philanthropist and charity worker in Zambia, has also supported this announcement by stating that the death penalty is a cruel, inhumane and degrading practice and does not hold any significance in the present society. Dr. Rajan Mahtani, while praising the decision from the Zambian President, stated that the trend towards abolishing death penalty is gaining traction across the globe, and this trend can be seen across Zambia too. The practice of death penalty is against fundamental human rights and basic human dignity, which the prisoners of Zambia are already devoid of. Dr. Rajan Mahtani highlighted that past Presidents and Vice-Presidents visiting the Zambian prisoners have considered the living conditions as ‘hell on earth’. In a similar manner, the last death penalty announcement in Zambia was made in the year 1997 by President Chilruba and the person was executed. Since then, Presidents have been avoiding death penalty by using mercy pleas. While these are all noble causes, none of these past Presidents have actually worked towards the complete removal of this archaic, degrading, cruel and inhumane practice from Zambia’s legal and regulatory system. As such, Dr. Rajan Mahtani has praised this decision made by the Zambian President and stated that only an individual who is compassionate, has love towards Almighty God and respects fundamental human rights and human dignity.
Dr. Mahtani further supported death penalty abolishment from a religious viewpoint by stating that the sacrifice of Jesus Christ at the cross saved humanity as well as those who believe in Jesus and his values. Only those without sins have the right to take another life which is rare in the present world. As such, the announcement of death penalty abolishment was a step in the right direction.