Death Penalty in Namibia
Introduction
Namibia is deemed is deemed to be a country of a low crime rate, especially to the likes of the USA, Mexico or even our neighbours South Africa. However, it is evident that there is a gradual increase in crime; homicides and rapes are widely reported accross the country and the Namibian nation is concerned. Some have even called for the reinstatent of the death penalty in Namibia.
It is important to establish the meaning of death penalty and what it entails. According to the Oxford Dictionary, death penalty is the legally authorized killing of someone as punishment for a crime. So it is a sentence made by the court which allows the State to execute a guilty party. However, only certain crimes would amount to the guilty party being executed. These crimes may be first degree murder, terrorism or even treason. Application of the death penalty to crimes such as fraud and theft would obviously be too extreme.
A famouse example of a death penalty sentence is that of former Iraqi President Sadam Hussein. Sadam Hussein was sentenced to death by hanging, after being found guilty and convicted of crimes against humanity in December 2006.
The death penalty is a subjectively sensitive issue. Whether or not to reintroduce the death penalty in Namibia remains a huge debate among its citizens. This essay will discuss the death penalty on its history in Namibia; its introduction and abolition. The advantages and disadvantages of the death penalty will also be laid down, and a final conclusion will be reached on whether the death penalty can be applied to deter crime in Namibia.
The History of Capital Punishment in Namibia
In Namibia, the death penalty was originally introduced in 1858, by Jonker Afrikaner and 19 other chiefs at a peace conference. This conference resulted in the Treaty of Hoachanas that prescribed the procedures applicable to a murder trial and the execution of the death sentence. The death sentence as a form of punishment in Namibia was
Namibia is deemed is deemed to be a country of a low crime rate, especially to the likes of the USA, Mexico or even our neighbours South Africa. However, it is evident that there is a gradual increase in crime; homicides and rapes are widely reported accross the country and the Namibian nation is concerned. Some have even called for the reinstatent of the death penalty in Namibia.
It is important to establish the meaning of death penalty and what it entails. According to the Oxford Dictionary, death penalty is the legally authorized killing of someone as punishment for a crime. So it is a sentence made by the court which allows the State to execute a guilty party. However, only certain crimes would amount to the guilty party being executed. These crimes may be first degree murder, terrorism or even treason. Application of the death penalty to crimes such as fraud and theft would obviously be too extreme.
A famouse example of a death penalty sentence is that of former Iraqi President Sadam Hussein. Sadam Hussein was sentenced to death by hanging, after being found guilty and convicted of crimes against humanity in December 2006.
The death penalty is a subjectively sensitive issue. Whether or not to reintroduce the death penalty in Namibia remains a huge debate among its citizens. This essay will discuss the death penalty on its history in Namibia; its introduction and abolition. The advantages and disadvantages of the death penalty will also be laid down, and a final conclusion will be reached on whether the death penalty can be applied to deter crime in Namibia.
The History of Capital Punishment in Namibia
In Namibia, the death penalty was originally introduced in 1858, by Jonker Afrikaner and 19 other chiefs at a peace conference. This conference resulted in the Treaty of Hoachanas that prescribed the procedures applicable to a murder trial and the execution of the death sentence. The death sentence as a form of punishment in Namibia was