It is now three years down the road since the Government of Rwanda abolished the death penalty for criminals. On whether it has been effective, this is word on the street about the abolition of the death penalty.

"Killing someone for what he has done will not solve any problem instead it increases the loss on the side of the government in terms of development.”

Idephonse Nkotanyi, Coach of Shining Football Team, Kigali.

"Killing a murderer is of no use because it will not resurrect those who were murdered.”

 Pascal Dusabimana, Student at ETM II Secondary School.

"For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. People who kill others should be killed in return.”

Patrick Muhire, Fashion Designer.

"Instead of being killed immediately, I would rather be imprisoned for my crimes or I serve a life sentence because this would give me a sense of being pardoned.”

Eloge Mugisha, Model at Inkanda House.

"When a convict is killed, he will never know the impact of the crime they have committed. It is better to give them a second chance to realize the gravity of their mistakes.”

Alex Irakiza, Student at APAIER Nyandungu Secondary School.

"If the government did not take the initiative of abolishing the death penalty, it could have affected the whole population. Many people would avenge the death of their beloved ones and the cycle would continue.”

Michael Nzamwita, Photographer.

"The death penalty is not viable but again, life imprisonment is not enough. The government should have introduced some stringent punishment like cutting off some parts of their bodies because of what they have done.”

Patrick Uwase, Student at Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST).

"At my old age it is an abomination to live alone at home with no one to help me. But again to kill the people who killed my family cannot help me.”

Thersia Irabanza, Resident of Nyamirambo.

Ends