Death penalty will be maintained on the statute books of Zambia despite President Levy Mwanawasa not signing any death warrants, Times of Zambia reported Saturday.

It quoted Justice Minister George Kunda as telling the Parliament that death penalty is "very contentious" and that is why it is among the terms of reference for the Wila Mung'omba Constitution Review Commission (CRC).

He said the majority of the people who submitted before the CRC argued that the death penalty should remain on the statute books.

He was responding to a supplementary question by a parliament member, who wanted to know why the death penalty is being maintained when it is not being implemented.

Earlier, Justice Deputy Minister Bradford Machila said 41 people have been sentenced to death since 2001 although none of them has been executed.

When another parliament member asked whether the president has the discretion not to follow the law by refusing to sign death warrants, Kunda said he has.

Zambia Daily Mail quoted Kunda as telling the parliament that Mwanawasa has indicated that he will not sign any warrant for death penalty for the period he remains in office.

Kunda said the prerogative of mercy committee has been active since 2001 and that a number of death sentences have been reduced to life or terminable sentences.

Source: Xinhua