Court of Appeal of Tanzania

This is the highest level in the justice delivery system in Tanzania. The Court of Appeal draws its mandate from Article 117(1) of the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania. The Court hears appeals  on both point of law and facts for cases originating from the High Court of Tanzania and Magistrates with extended jurisdiction in exercise of their original jurisdiction or appellate and revisional jurisdiction over matters originating in the District Land and Housing Tribunals, District Courts and Courts of Resident Magistrate. The Court also hears similar appeals  from quasi judicial bodies of status equivalent to that of the High Court. It  further hears appeals  on point of law against the decision of the High Court in  matters originating from Primary Courts. The Court of Appeal also exercises jurisdiction on appeals originating from the High Court of Zanzibar except for constitutional issues arising from the interpretation of the Constitution of Zanzibar and matters arising from the Kadhi Court.

Physical address
26 Kivukoni Road Building P.O. Box 9004, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
30 judgments

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30 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
July 2019
Alleged illegality must be apparent on the record to justify extension of time to appeal.
Civil procedure – Extension of time under Rule 10 – good cause requires demonstration of delay, reasons and prejudice – illegality as ground for extension must be apparent on the face of the record (Lyamuya principle).
30 July 2019
An allegation of illegality must be clearly specified and apparent on the record to justify extension of time.
Extension of time — Rule 10 Court of Appeal Rules — alleged illegality as good cause — illegality must be clearly specified and apparent on the face of the record — failure to demonstrate illegality — dismissal with costs.
30 July 2019
Filing a notice of appeal against a miscellaneous stay order does not automatically oust the High Court's jurisdiction over a separate main suit.
Appellate jurisdiction – notice of appeal – whether filing a notice of appeal in a miscellaneous application to stay proceedings for arbitration ousts the High Court's jurisdiction over the related main suit – interpretation of "civil proceedings" in section 5(1) Appellate Jurisdiction Act – requirement that notice of appeal specify the proceedings appealed from.
30 July 2019
Whether unlawful possession under the Forest Act covers imported timber and whether respondents accounted for possession.
Criminal law – Forest Act s.88 and G.N. No.153/2004 Regs.10 & 57 – scope includes imported forest produce; literal construction applied. Evidence – use of past import certificates, transit passes and dealer registration as corroboration of practice and to account for possession. Criminal procedure – omission to cite a regulation that creates no offence does not necessarily create fatal variance. Witness evidence – contradictions must be assessed in context; opposing-party witnesses’ differing accounts are not technical contradictions.
29 July 2019
Conviction upheld: PF3 expunged but victim's credible, corroborated evidence sustained the conviction.
Criminal law – Unnatural offence involving a child; defective charge — non-fatal inclusion of incorrect subsection; evidence — credibility of child complainant and corroboration; trial procedure — calling witness after defence (s195 CPA); right to cross-examine maker of PF3 (s240(3) CPA) — failure requires expungement; scope of second appeal (rule 72(2)).
26 July 2019
Alleged fraud and delay did not amount to good cause for extension of time to seek revision; application dismissed with costs.
Civil procedure – extension of time – Rule 10 Court of Appeal Rules – applicant must account for each day of delay and show diligence (Lyamuya guidelines). Illegality as ground for extension – illegality must be apparent on the face of the record to justify extension. Allegations of fraud against advocate – serious allegations require supporting evidence or disciplinary steps; not determinable in extension application. Perusal of court file and possession of drawn order – possession of documents defeats claim of inability to act.
25 July 2019
Defective charge and trial irregularities led appellate court to quash convictions and order immediate release.
Criminal procedure — defective particulars — failure to link violence to theft in armed robbery charge — defect not curable under s.388 CPA; Failure to enter conviction — breach of s.235 CPA — remedy depends on case facts; Appellate revisional powers — s.4(2) AJA — nullification and quashing of proceedings; Trial evaluation of defence — error to form conclusion before assessing defence.
25 July 2019
A robbery charge omitting the person targeted is incurably defective, nullifying convictions and precluding retrial.
Criminal procedure — Charge particulars — Robbery — Particulars must disclose the essential ingredient of violence or threat and the person targeted; omission renders the charge incurably defective and occasions failure of justice; proceedings nullified; retrial inappropriate where no valid charge exists (section 4(2) AJA; section 388(1) CPA).
25 July 2019
A conviction based on a charge citing non-existent provisions was declared a nullity; conviction quashed and appellant released.
Criminal procedure — Charge sheet — Incorrect or non-existent statutory citations — incurable defect — prejudice to accused — s.388 CPA inapplicable — trial nullity — revisional powers — conviction quashed — retrial inappropriate.
25 July 2019
Stay of execution granted pending appeal where rule 11(7) complied and an undertaking to provide security sufficed.
Civil procedure – Stay of execution – Rule 11(7) TCR – compliance by filing notice of appeal, judgment, decree and notice of execution within 14 days. Appeals – Leave to appeal – absence of requirement to show leave obtained in stay application under rule 11(7). Security for stay – firm undertaking to furnish security is sufficient; Court to give directives where appropriate. Matrimonial proceedings – division of matrimonial assets – conditional stay and surrender of registration documents.
19 July 2019
Stay of execution granted pending appeal where Rule 11(7) complied with; undertaking and surrender of registration documents required.
Court of Appeal Rules – Rule 11(7) – Stay of execution pending appeal – compliance with cumulative requirements – undertaking to furnish security – matrimonial property – surrender of registration documents as condition of stay.
19 July 2019
Extension of time granted where alleged irregularities raised an arguable illegality despite a long delay; fraud claims not resolved here.
Civil procedure — Extension of time — Rule 10 Court of Appeal Rules — application of Lyamuya test: account for delay, avoid inordinate delay, show diligence, point of law/illegality. Illegality apparent on face of record can justify extension even if delay not fully explained. Right to be heard — cannot be asserted by non-party to original proceedings. Allegations of fraud are serious and require proof, not resolved on extension application.
19 July 2019
Extension of time granted to seek revision where alleged illegality and undisputed property interest justified delay.
Civil procedure – Extension of time under Rule 10 – Application of Lyamuya factors (account for delay, length, diligence, point of law/illegality). Illegality in impugned decision – can constitute good cause where apparent on the face of the record; fraud allegations require proof and are not decided on extension applications. Summary procedure – non-party cannot successfully claim denial of hearing in those proceedings at extension stage. Discretionary relief – balancing delay against pursuit of remedies and undisputed interest in property.
19 July 2019
Failure to join the applicant and to afford a hearing voided the High Court land orders and required a retrial.
Land law — necessary parties and joinder (Order 1 Rule 10(2)); non-joinder as material irregularity; principles of natural justice and Article 13(6)(a); setting aside judgment and remitting for fresh hearing.
18 July 2019
Board's disciplinary decision communicated by management constituted a valid dismissal; acting HR's letter was only formal notification.
Labour law – unfair dismissal – proper authority to terminate – Board decision communicated by management; Administrative law – authentication provisions (Paragraph 9, First Schedule, Ports Act) apply to execution of instruments/contracts, not internal dismissal notifications; Evidence – oral notification by Board sufficient to establish Board-made decision.
18 July 2019
Conviction quashed due to expunged PF3s, defective exhibit identification/chain of custody, and failure to consider defence.
Criminal law – armed robbery – proof by recent possession – requirement of proper identification and chain of custody for exhibits (s.38(3) CPA). Evidence – medical examination reports (PF3) – requirement to read contents and right to call medical officer (s.240(3) CPA) – non-compliance leads to expunging. Criminal procedure – defects in charge sheet – curable under s.388(1) CPA if no prejudice. Criminal procedure – trial judge must consider defence evidence; failure to do so vitiates conviction.
18 July 2019
An applicant must account for each day of delay and disclose Rule 66(1) grounds in the motion and affidavit to obtain extension for review.
Criminal procedure – Extension of time to apply for review – Applicant must show good cause under Rule 10 and establish Rule 66(1) grounds by affidavit. Delay – Applicant must account for each day of delay; transfers between prisons not automatic justification. Procedure – Grounds for review must be set out in the notice of motion and affidavit; oral afterthoughts insufficient.
18 July 2019
Applicant failed to show good cause for delay to apply for review; extension refused and application dismissed.
Criminal procedure — Extension of time to apply for review — Requirement to show good cause and account for delay — Need for documentary or corroborative evidence to support claimed cause (e.g., death) — Delay caused by applicant’s inaction — Application dismissed.
18 July 2019
Stay of execution granted pending appeal where applicant showed good cause, timely filing and undertook to provide security.
Court of Appeal — stay of execution pending appeal; Rule 11(3) and 11(5) Tanzania Court of Appeal Rules — good cause; substantial loss; delay; security; undertaking to furnish security sufficient; conditional stay on bank guarantee.
18 July 2019
Second appeal: unraised grounds struck out, uncounselled cautioned statement expunged, conviction sustained, sentences reduced and ordered concurrent.
Criminal appeal — second appeal — new grounds not raised in first appeal struck out; cautioned statement admitted but not read to accused — must be expunged; identification and recovery of stolen property as proof of guilt; appellate reduction of excessive sentence for first offender.
17 July 2019
Second‑bite extension of time refused for failure to account for multi‑year delay; clerical heading error not fatal.
Civil procedure – extension of time – Rule 10 Court of Appeal Rules – applicant must account for every day of delay; discretion exercised judiciously. Appellate practice – second‑bite applications – treated as fresh applications; applicant may raise new grounds but must state sufficient cause for delay. Procedure – preliminary objection – mis‑heading of Notice of Motion as an "appeal" is a clerical error and not fatal to competence. Omnibus objection – High Court may raise competence suo motu but parties must advance grounds addressing delay in a fresh application.
15 July 2019
Failure to serve the notice and supporting affidavit under Rule 55(1) renders the application incompetent and it was struck out with costs.
Court of Appeal — extension of time — procedural requirements for applications — Rule 48(1) and 48(3) (informal applications in the course of hearing); Rule 55(1) (service of notice and affidavit) — non‑compliance fatal; Rule 10 — cannot be invoked by oral submissions to prove facts; affidavit evidence required — statements from counsel are not evidence; application struck out with costs.
10 July 2019
Beneficiaries with prior involvement have standing to be joined as respondents; preliminary objections require Rule 107(1) notice and reply affidavit.
Joinder/intervention – beneficiaries of estate – standing and interest to protect estate rights; Civil procedure – preliminary objections – Rule 107(1) three days' notice; affidavit in reply – absence leaves founding affidavit uncontroverted; right to be heard – lateness not necessarily fatal.
7 July 2019
Inadequate summing up to assessors on circumstantial evidence and possible defence vitiated the trial; proceedings quashed and retrial ordered.
Criminal procedure – Duty of trial judge sitting with assessors to adequately sum up on law and salient facts; direction on circumstantial evidence and possible defences required. Circumstantial evidence – need to explain how indirect evidence can irresistibly link accused to offence. Chain of custody/forensic testing – raised but not finally determinative on appeal. Failure to call material witness – ground raised but inadequacy of summing up vitiated proceedings. Revisional jurisdiction – quashing and ordering retrial where trial marred by material non‑directions.
4 July 2019
Prosecution failed to prove principal–agent relationship; no prima facie case for corruption; appeal dismissed and money returned to PCCB.
Corruption offences – requirement to prove principal–agent relationship; criminal procedure – no case to answer under s.230 CPA; prima facie test (Ramanlal); cautioned statement not necessarily a confession; disposal of exhibits (s.353 CPA).
4 July 2019
Failure to formally convict after finding guilt invalidates subsequent sentencing and appellate proceedings; remittal for conviction ordered.
Criminal procedure – requirement to convict after a finding of guilt – failure to convict renders mitigation, sentence and subsequent appellate proceedings invalid – revisional powers under s.4(2) AJA – remedial nullification and remittal for conviction and sentence.
4 July 2019
Reference against single-Justice ruling struck out as time-barred for failure to comply with Rule 62(1)'s seven-day limit.
Civil procedure – Reference against decision of single Justice – Rule 62(1) Court of Appeal Rules, 2009 – Seven-day time limit – Late reference liable to be struck out.
4 July 2019
Software licence fees are royalties and services delivered to a Tanzanian resident have Tanzanian source for withholding tax purposes.
Tax law – Software licence agreements – Characterisation as lease/license; Royalty definition – licence fees for use of copyrighted software; Source of income/payments – services delivered/transmitted to resident constitute Tanzanian source under s.69(i)(i); Withholding tax liability – application of s.83(1)(b); Precedent – follows Tullow, distinguishes Pan African Energy.
1 July 2019
Licence fees for foreign software are royalties and services supplied to a Tanzanian payer have Tanzanian source for withholding tax.
Tax — Software licence — Characterisation of Software Licence Agreement as lease/licence versus purchase; Payments as 'royalty' under s.3 Income Tax Act 2004; Source of income/payment — services supplied to a Tanzanian payer constitute Tanzanian source under s.69(i)(i); Withholding tax liability under s.83(1)(b).
1 July 2019
Court affirms factual notice of rent increase but sets aside unpleaded damages, substituting pleaded rent arrears.
Tenancy law – rent increase – no statutory mode (written/oral) required absent contractual provision – notice a question of fact. Evidence – concurrent findings of fact by trial and first appellate court not to be disturbed on second appeal absent misapprehension or miscarriage of justice. Civil procedure and pleadings – specific damages must be specifically pleaded and strictly proved; courts cannot award sums not pleaded or proved. Set-off – payments for renovations or to third parties do not automatically discharge rent obligations unless pleaded and proved. Relief – appellate power to set aside unpleaded award and substitute the pleaded and proved amount.
1 July 2019