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.
2 judgments

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2 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
October 1997
Material contradictions in prosecution evidence and an unassessed alibi warranted quashing convictions and ordering release.
* Criminal law – housebreaking and stealing – evaluation of witness credibility; material contradictions in testimony. * Evidence – inconsistencies in dates, items and arrest timing undermining prosecution case. * Defence – alibi need not be proved; alibi that raises reasonable doubt must be given proper weight. * Appeal – convictions unsafe where trial court fails to properly assess contradictions and alibi.
10 October 1997
January 1997
Circumstantial evidence must exclude all reasonable alternative hypotheses before convicting for murder.
Criminal law – Circumstantial evidence – Necessity to exclude all reasonable hypotheses inconsistent with accused’s innocence; suspicion insufficient for conviction; importance of considering timing, distance and local geography; weight to be attached to witness conduct and production of weapon.
1 January 1997