Human rights campaigners in Zambia have won a major victory when President Levy Mwanawasa recently refused to sign death sentences, and commuted all sentences to life imprisonment. The criminal justice system in Zambia imposes the death penalty for three offences: murder, treason and aggravated robbery. Home Affairs Minister Ronnie Shipakwasha, a close ally of Mwanawasa, who is opposed to the death penalty, says: "The president, in his own wisdom, has gone ahead and refused to carry out the death penalty and commuted them to life imprisonment.” There are about 250 people on death row in Zambia.