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.
248 judgments

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248 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
December 2018
Stay of execution refused: applicants showed loss and timely appeal but failed to provide mandatory security.
Court of Appeal — stay of execution — Rule 11(2) Court of Appeal Rules — mandatory cumulative conditions: substantial loss, absence of unreasonable delay, and security for due performance — possession of original title by respondent does not obviate need for alternative security — property subject to decretal sale cannot serve as security.
27 December 2018
Appeal dismissed as misconceived; proper remedy was to apply to set aside the summary decree under Order XXXV r.8.
Civil Procedure – Summary suit under Order XXXV CPC – Proper use of summons to appear and defend – Joinder of guarantors in summary proceedings – Summary/default judgment akin to ex‑parte decree – Setting aside summary decrees under Order XXXV r.8 requires exceptional circumstances and a prima facie defence – Appellate limitation: courts should not decide issues not determined by trial court; Rule 93(1) compliance.
24 December 2018
A trial magistrate cannot close the prosecution's case; improper closure vitiates subsequent proceedings and requires rehearing.
Criminal procedure — trial magistrate has no power to close prosecution's case — improper closure prejudices prosecution and vitiates subsequent proceedings — unfinished witness evidence and denial of cross‑examination — remedy: quash closure and order rehearing under s.4(2) AJA; ancillary issues: identification, admissibility of cautioned statements, failure to tender vehicle as exhibit.
24 December 2018
Revision against a High Court interim injunction is barred as interlocutory under section 5(2)(d) of the Appellate Jurisdiction Act.
* Appellate Jurisdiction Act s.5(2)(d) – bar on appeals/revisions against interlocutory High Court orders; interlocutory proceedings defined; revision competency. * Civil Procedure – Order XXXVII r.5 – remedy to vary/discharge injunction. * Record of revision – requirement to include relevant documents under s.4(3) AJA.
24 December 2018
An appeal brought without required leave is incompetent and must be struck out, not withdrawn or dismissed.
Civil procedure — Appeal requiring leave — Incompetence for want of leave — Court lacks jurisdiction — Incompetent appeals are struck out rather than dismissed or withdrawn — Application of Rules 102(2) and 102(5).
24 December 2018
An appeal against a summary judgment is misconceived; defendants should apply to set aside the decree showing exceptional circumstances and a defence.
Civil procedure – Summary suits (Order XXXV CPC) – summons to appear and defend – effect of non-appearance – summary judgment akin to ex-parte decree – setting aside summary decree (Order XXXV r.8) – requirement to show exceptional circumstances and meritorious defence – improper to raise undecided trial issues on appeal.
20 December 2018
Unexplained delay in arrest undermined eyewitness identification; the applicant's alibi prevailed and convictions were quashed.
* Criminal law - Visual identification - reliability of eyewitness identification; * Criminal procedure - unexplained delay in arrest and its effect on witness credibility; * Alibi - effect of credible alibi where identification evidence is not watertight; * Standard of proof - prosecution must prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
12 December 2018
November 2018
24 November 2018
Applicant permitted to amend an affidavit under Rule 50 to add omitted verification paragraphs; omission deemed an oversight.
* Civil procedure – Amendment of affidavits – Rule 50(1) & (2) Court of Appeal Rules – permissibility and procedure; * Verification clause omissions – oversight versus negligence; * Amendment as correction of the existing record (no need to withdraw affidavit); * Promptness and filing time for amended documents; * Costs to abide outcome of main application.
22 November 2018
Revision application struck out for failure to file requisite lower court proceedings, rulings and extracted orders.
Appellate Jurisdiction Act s.4(3) and Court of Appeal Rules Rule 65 — Revision applications must include copies of lower court proceedings, ruling and extracted order; failure to attach renders application incompetent and liable to be struck out; competence of revision to challenge execution orders; procedural non-compliance fatal to application.
14 November 2018
Court granted stay of execution pending appeal where applicant showed good cause and undertook bank-guarantee security.
Civil procedure — Stay of execution pending appeal — Rule 11(2) TTCAR — conditions: timely notice of appeal, good cause, absence of unreasonable delay, and security — bank guarantee equal to decretal sum accepted as security.
9 November 2018
A revision cannot substitute for an appeal; the applicant’s revision was struck out as incompetent with costs.
Appellate v. revisional jurisdiction; revision not an alternative to appeal except in exceptional circumstances; payment of court fees does not extend statutory time for appeal; incompetence of revision veiling an appeal.
9 November 2018
8 November 2018
Assessors’ failure to give individual opinions under s.298(1) CPA may be cured if co‑assessors expressly adopt a filed joint opinion.
Criminal procedure – assessors’ role – s.298(1) Criminal Procedure Act – requirement for each assessor to give an individual opinion – joint opinion read by one assessor – curable irregularity where co‑assessors expressly adopt joint written opinion and document is filed – retrial only where record silent or no adoption.
6 November 2018
Bail application by a respondent in an EOCCA offence involving ≥Tsh10 million must be filed in the High Court.
Criminal procedure – EOCCA s29(4)(d) – bail jurisdiction where property value ≥ Tshs.10,000,000 – distinction between High Court and its Corruption and Economic Crimes Division – s12(5) certificate does not override s29(4)(d).
2 November 2018
2 November 2018
1 November 2018
October 2018
Appellant cleared and delivered goods; court found no evidence of tampering and allowed appeal, quashing unproven damages.
Carriage and clearing agents — custody of imported goods at port; inspection by TRA need not involve carrier/respondent; pleadings must define issues for trial; findings on un‑pleaded matters vitiate judgment; special damages must be pleaded and proved; appellate allowance where award unsupported by invoice and evidence.
30 October 2018
A notice of appeal must name every appellant; misnaming is incurable and renders a joint appeal incompetent.
* Criminal procedure – notice of intention to appeal under s.361(1)(a) CPA – format of written notice; requirement to title "In the High Court of Tanzania" (prospective). * Procedural requirement – Notice of Appeal must name all appellants; misdescription as "and another" is incurable and renders appeal incompetent. * Court of Appeal Rules – Rule 72 (time for memorandum) requires proof of service of record before late filing sanctions apply. * Preliminary objections – improper titling objection overruled where requirement was not mandatory at time of filing.
30 October 2018
Applicant failed to account for delay; extension of time refused and appeal dismissed with costs.
* Civil procedure — Extension of time — Applicant must account for each day of delay; unexplained delay fatal to claim for extension. * Civil procedure — Affidavits — Counter-affidavit filed out of time without leave should be struck off or expunged; omission to do so is error but may be non-prejudicial. * Judicial conduct — Allegation of bias — Must be supported by record; unsupported allegations dismissed. * Appeal — Point of law of sufficient importance — Must be apparent on the face of the record to justify enlarging time (Valambhia; Lyamuya principles).
30 October 2018
Appeal struck out because the record omitted the mandatory plaint without High Court leave.
Appeal — Record of appeal — completeness — pleadings (plaint) mandatory under Rule 96(1)(c) Court of Appeal Rules — only High Court Justice/Registrar may order exclusion under Rule 96(3) — omission renders record incomplete and appeal incompetent — appeal struck out with costs.
30 October 2018
Court vacated its finding that a representation dispute justified revision and ordered re-opening for parties to be heard.
Revisional jurisdiction — Appeal versus revision — Whether unresolved dispute as to a party's legal representation amounts to good and sufficient cause to prefer revision — Procedural fairness (audi alteram partem) — Rule 66(6) modification of Court's decision.
29 October 2018
A filed notice of appeal suspends limitation and ousts High Court jurisdiction until the Court of Appeal determines the matter.
Limitation law – effect of filing notice of appeal – filing notice of appeal divests High Court of jurisdiction and suspends limitation; Rule 91(a) – notice not ineffective without court order; procedural consequence – premature suit and proper remedy.
26 October 2018
Technical delay from an appeal struck out as incompetent can constitute good cause to extend time to file a fresh notice of appeal.
* Civil procedure – Extension of time – Rule 10 Court of Appeal Rules – discretion to extend time upon good cause shown. * Technical delay – where an originally timeous appeal is struck out as incompetent, ensuing delay in filing fresh appeal may be excusable. * Promptness – prompt action after striking out and refusal of prior enlargement supports grant of extension. * Competence of appeal – failure to attach leave or inconsistent dates may render appeal incompetent, but does not preclude fresh extension application.
25 October 2018
A notice of appeal that fails to name an appellant is incurably defective and the appeal is struck out.
* Criminal procedure – notice of intention to appeal under s.361(1)(a) CPA – format and title – Court prescribes "In the High Court of Tanzania" for written notices (prospective effect). * Civil/criminal appellate procedure – Rule 68(1) Court of Appeal Rules – Notice of Appeal must properly name all appellants; misdescription as "and another" is incurably defective. * Court of Appeal Rules – Rule 72(1) on lodging memorandum of appeal – dismissal for late filing requires proof of service of the record.
25 October 2018
The applicant's revision application was time-barred; the Court struck it out and awarded costs to the respondent who raised the objection.
Time bar; preliminary objection to competency of application; strike out versus dismissal; award of costs to respondent who raised successful objection.
25 October 2018
An extension application is incompetent where the applicant failed to file the requisite notice of appeal after the prior appeal was struck out.
* Civil procedure – extension of time – prerequisite notice of appeal – a fresh notice or extension to file it must precede an application for extension to file appeal when prior appeal was struck out. * Concurrent jurisdiction – Rule 47 – application for extension to file notice of appeal should be made in High Court in first instance. * Striking out – absence of requisite notice renders extension application incompetent; merits not considered.
25 October 2018
25 October 2018
A subordinate court’s trial is void where economic-offence prosecutions proceed without the D.P.P.’s consent or certificate.
* Criminal procedure – Jurisdiction – Economic offences under the Economic and Organized Crimes Control Act – prior consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions (s.26(1)) and certificate under s.12(3)-(4) required for subordinate courts to try economic offences – absence of such consent/certificate renders trial a nullity.; * Charge-sheet defects – combining economic and non-economic offences without statutory authorization invalidates proceedings.
25 October 2018
Court granted extension of time under rule 10 to include missing transcribed pages, finding good cause and no undue prejudice.
* Civil procedure – extension of time – rule 10 Court of Appeal Rules – "good cause" to be determined by circumstances and jurisprudence. * Appeals – record of appeal – inclusion of missing transcribed pages under rule 96(6). * Evidence – reconciling variance between documentary evidence and affidavit – courts may accept affidavit explanation if satisfactory. * Prejudice – respondent's claim of prejudice insufficient to defeat leave to amend record where applicant acted promptly.
25 October 2018
A successor judge must record reasons for taking over a trial; failure makes subsequent proceedings null and orders retrial.
Procedure — Order XVIII Rule 10(1) CPC — Successor judge must record reasons for taking over an unfinished trial; failure renders successor’s proceedings, judgment and decree a nullity; Appellate Jurisdiction Act s.4(2) — revisional power to quash and order trial to continue before another judge; Exhibits/endorsement (Order XIII r.4(1) CPC and Court of Appeal Rules r.96(1)(k)) raised but not determined as successor-judge defect was dispositive.
25 October 2018
Court vacated finding of good cause for revision and reopened hearing to hear parties on a representation dispute.
Appellate procedure - revision v appeal - choice where order is appealable - good and sufficient cause - dispute as to legal representation on record - audi alteram partem - re-opening of hearing - Rule 66(6) of the Court of Appeal Rules.
23 October 2018
23 October 2018
22 October 2018
22 October 2018
Revision against interlocutory High Court orders in execution proceedings is barred by section 5(2)(d) AJA.
* Appellate procedure – Revision – Interlocutory orders – Section 5(2)(d) AJA bars appeals/revision against interlocutory decisions unless they finally determine the suit. * Civil procedure – Execution – Applications to lift corporate veil and court assistance in execution – interlocutory nature of preliminary rulings. * "Nature of the order" test – whether the impugned order finally disposes of parties' rights (Bozson test applied).
19 October 2018
Amendment of a notice of appeal to correct citation and judge's name allowed where sought before any objection.
Civil procedure — Appeal — Amendment of notice of appeal under Rule 111 — Court may allow amendment "at any time" meaning before objection is taken; correction of wrong rule citation and misspelt judge's name permitted where application brought before objection — prior authorities refusing amendments where objection earlier taken distinguished; costs in the cause.
17 October 2018
Amendment under Rule 111 to correct clerical errors in a notice of appeal is permitted if sought before any objection is taken.
Civil procedure — Rule 111 Court of Appeal Rules — amendment of notice of appeal; interpretation of "at any time" as before objection is taken; clerical errors (wrong rule citation, misspelt judge's name) curable by amendment where no prior objection; costs in the cause.
17 October 2018
An omnibus application combining extension of time to file notice of appeal and leave to appeal is incompetent and struck out.
* Civil procedure – Court of Appeal Rules – Rule 106(19) (waiver of written submissions) – alleged "exceptional circumstances" by reason of illegalities in the decision below. * Civil procedure – Omnibus/duplicative applications – combining extension of time to file notice of appeal with extension to apply for leave to appeal is incompetent. * Court of Appeal Rules – Rule 46(1) and Rule 83(4) – procedural sequencing: notice of appeal before application for leave or certificate. * Remedy – striking out defective application; no order as to costs where defect raised suo motu by court.
17 October 2018
The appeal was struck out as filed out of time; a Registrar's certificate of delay was valid and time limitation is jurisdictional.
Appeal – time limit for instituting appeal under Rule 90(1) – certificate of delay under Registrar’s seal – validity of certificate issued after delivery of copies; jurisdictional nature of limitation periods; Rule 4(2)(a) not available to cure time-bar.
17 October 2018
16 October 2018
Application for revision struck out as it sought to challenge interlocutory High Court orders barred by section 5(2)(d) AJA.
Appellate Jurisdiction Act s.5(2)(d) – appeal or revision barred against interlocutory orders; Nature of the order test (Bozson) – final disposal of parties' rights; Execution proceedings – lifting corporate veil and Order XXI r.10(2)(j) CPC (assistance/arrest as civil prisoner); Exceptional circumstances and right to be heard – threshold for Court of Appeal intervention by revision.
15 October 2018
A revision cannot challenge interlocutory High Court orders that do not finally determine the suit.
* Appellate Jurisdiction Act s.5(2)(d) – prohibition of appeal/revision against interlocutory orders unless suit is finally determined. * Interlocutory v final orders – "nature of the order" test. * Execution proceedings – lifting corporate veil and arrest of alleged company officer under Order XXI r.10(2)(j). * Revision – exceptional circumstances and right to be heard not established.
15 October 2018
Application for leave filed after the 14-day period under Rule 45(b) is time-barred and therefore struck out.
* Civil procedure – Appeal – Leave to appeal – Rule 45(b) Court of Appeal Rules – where High Court refuses leave, application to Court of Appeal must be filed within 14 days – late application incompetent and struck out. * Court may raise competence (time-bar) suo motu; no order as to costs where point raised by court.
15 October 2018
Non-compliance with Rules 11(2)(b) and 18 renders a stay of execution application incompetent and it is struck out; costs shared.
Court of Appeal Rules 2009 — Rule 18 endorsement of documents — mandatory lodging requirement; Rule 11(2)(b) — requirement to append notice of appeal to stay application — non-compliance fatal; competence of application for stay of execution; suo motu raising of procedural defects; striking out incompetent application.
5 October 2018
Failure to endorse or append a notice of appeal under Rules 18 and 11(2)(b) renders a stay application incompetent.
* Civil procedure – Stay of execution – Mandatory procedural requirements for stay applications – Rule 11(2)(b) (notice of appeal to be appended to notice of motion) and Rule 18 (mandatory endorsement of lodged documents) – Non‑compliance renders application incompetent and subject to striking out.
5 October 2018
A notice of appeal failing to specify the nature of the order appealed against is incurably defective and the appeal is struck out.
Criminal procedure – Notice of appeal – Rule 68(1),(2) and (7) Court of Appeal Rules – Requirement to state nature of order appealed against and substantial conformity to Form B; Interpretation of Laws Act – mandatory meaning of "shall"; incurable defect renders appeal incompetent; Rule 4(2)(b) not available to circumvent mandatory procedural requirements.
5 October 2018
1 October 2018
An appeal is incompetent and must be struck out where judgment and decree dates conflict with Order XX r.7(1); costs awarded to respondent.
Civil procedure – competence of appeal – variance between judgment date and decree date – contravention of Order XX r.7(1) Civil Procedure Code – preliminary objection – appeal struck out as incompetent – costs awarded to respondent for preparation expenses.
1 October 2018
Appeal struck out for conflicting judgment and decree dates (Order XX r.7(1)), with costs awarded to the respondent.
Civil procedure — Appeal competence — Variance between judgment and decree dates — Breach of Order XX r.7(1) Civil Procedure Code — Preliminary objection — Appeal struck out; costs awarded for preparation expenses.
1 October 2018