I, CUTHBERT TAPUWANASHE CHAWIRA do hereby make oath and state that:-

I am the First Applicant in this matter.  The facts I depose hereto are fully within my knowledge and to the best of my belief true and correct.  To the extent that I make many averments of law and research, I do so, on the basis of advice from counsel which advice I fully accept. 

THE ACTORS

I was born on the 20^th of January 1970.  I am currently a death row prisoner incarcerated at Chikurubi Maximum Prison.  My Prison Number is 641/13. 

I was convicted of murder and sentenced to death by Malaba J as he then was on the 26^th of September 2000 after having been arrested on the 6^th of October 1999.  I have thus spent 15 years on death row.  I confirm that I am married with a wife who since has moved on.  I have three children the oldest who is 19 years. 

The brief facts of the murder I was involved in was that I was involved in an armed robbery with others, which resulted in the death of the manager then at Fairmile Motel in Gweru.  The actual murder was committed by an accomplice of mine but I was convicted on the basis of the doctrine of common purpose. 

The 2^nd Applicant Masimba Mbaya, is currently a prisoner incarcerated at Chikurubi Maximum Prison.  He was arrested in 1998 and convicted and sentenced to death by Justice Guvava on the 30^th of April 2004 following a murder during the course of armed robbery that took place in Bromley, Ruwa. 

The 2^nd to the 14^th Applicants are all death row prisoners serving at Chikurubi Maximum Prison.  I provide their full details in respect of their names, age, date of arrest, date of sentence, sentence, CRB Number, Court, number of years incarcerated, number of years on death row in the following schedule.

Our address for the purpose of this action is care of our legal practitioners of record Tendai Biti Law from 28 Rowland Square, Milton Park, Harare.

The First Respondent, the Minister of Justice, Legal & Parliamentary Affairs, is a Minister duly appointed by the President in terms of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.    He is the Minister responsible for the Administration of the Prisons Act [Chapter 7:11] and he is also cited in that he is also the Minister responsible for administering the Constitution of Zimbabwe. His address for service is 6^th Floor, Block A, New Government Complex, Central Avenue, Harare.

The Second Respondent is the Commissioner of Prisons and Correctional Services.  He is appointed by the President in terms of the Prison’s Act [Chapter 7:11].  He is cited as such as an interested party who may wish to make comments on the present application.  His address for service is care of Prisons Headquarters, Mbuya Nehanda Street, Harare.

The Third Respondent is the Attorney General of Zimbabwe appointed as such in terms of Section 114 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.  As the Attorney General, he has a direct interest in this matter and is therefore cited as such for this reason.  His address for service is care of 4^th Floor, Block A, New Government Complex, Central Avenue, Harare.