Zimbabwe prison official says death sentences to be reviewed
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Zimbabwe prison officials say they are not in a hurry to engage the services of a newly-appointed hangman to execute the 77 inmates on death row and will review their sentences.
Prisons official Huggins Machingauta said Wednesday that authorities wanted to give prisoners facing execution a "chance to live."
He said all death sentences will be brought before the cabinet of ministers for a review to commute them to life.
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The hangman's post was vacant for about seven years since the previous one retired in 2005. State media reported earlier this month that prison officials said they found a new hangman.
A new proposed draft constitution endorsed by the country's two main political parties exempts women, men under 21 and those over 70 from the death penalty.