Life sentence challenged

A prisoner serving a life jail term, Obadiah Makoni yesterday approached the ConCourt seeking immediate release from prison arguing his continuous detention without the possibility of parole was in violation of the country's Constitution.

Makoni Through his lawyer Tendai Biti who was instructed by a non-governmental organisation, Veritas said a life sentence imposed on convicted prisoners without the possibility of parole, amounted to inhuman and degrading treatment and was therefore ultra vires the provisions of articles 51 and 53 of the country's supreme law.