Death penalty challenged

People's Democratic Party leader and lawyer Tendai Biti is challenging the constitutionality of capital punishment several months after he appeared before the same court arguing for sentences of death row inmates to be commuted to life in prison.

Biti confirmed that the Constitutional Court will hear the application this month. In January when he appeared before the same court on behalf of 15 inmates on death row at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison, Biti argued that their sentences be commuted to life in prison.

Some of the inmates have been on death row for the past 18 years. Zimbabwe last executed prisoners in 2005.

Notorious robbers Stephen Chidhumo and Edgar Masendeke were among the last inmates hanged at Chikurubi.