High Court of Tanzania

This is the second level in the Judiciary justice delivery hierarchy. It has both appellate and original powers on civil and criminal matters. It also hears appeals from the Courts of Resident Magistrate, the District Courts, and the District Land and Housing Tribunals in exercise of their original, appellate and/or revisional jurisdiction. The High Court is divided into Zones and specialized Divisions. 

Physical address
24 Kivukoni Road, P O Box: S.L.P. 9004
602 judgments

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602 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
December 2024
An appeal against a compounding decision lacking the required proceedings, judgment or order is incompetent and struck out.
Criminal procedure — Appeal — Requirement that petition be accompanied by copy of proceedings, judgment or order (s.362 CPA) — Payment receipt insufficient as substitute — Competence — Compounding orders under Wildlife Conservation Act not adjudicated due to procedural non-compliance.
31 December 2024
23 December 2024
Taxation of court-broker's costs was timely and reasonable; unpaid sale proceeds must be pursued in a separate suit.
Court brokers — bill of costs — Rule 27(4) Court Brokers and Process Servers Rules (GN No.365/2017) — timing for filing bill of costs; Overriding objective — curative power for procedural defects; Taxation — taxing master's discretion — evidence-based assessment (EFD receipts, valuation, transport); Distinction between taxation of costs and recovery of sale proceeds — separate civil remedy required.
20 December 2024
18 December 2024
The appellant's drug trafficking conviction was quashed due to material contradictions in prosecution evidence about seized exhibits.
Criminal law – Drug trafficking – Material contradictions in prosecution evidence regarding seized exhibits (number/weight/case references) – Not every discrepancy is fatal, but contradictions in the gist of evidence invalidate conviction; Chain of custody and documentary inconsistencies; Appeal allowed and conviction quashed.
18 December 2024
18 December 2024
18 December 2024
Respondent’s failure to plead specific defamatory words defeated the defamation claim; appeal allowed and judgment reversed.
Defamation law — requirement to plead specific words and their defamatory meaning — plaint must identify complained words or meanings; publication to third parties must be proved; failure to plead specific defamatory meaning is fatal to claim.
16 December 2024
Failure to plead and particularize specific defamatory words defeated the defamation claim; appeal allowed and judgment reversed.
Defamation – elements (false statement, publication, damage) – pleading requirements – necessity to plead specific words or resulting innuendo – failure to particularize defamatory words is fatal to the claim.
16 December 2024
Implied contract existed but fraud claim failed for lack of cardholder evidence; appeal dismissed.
* Contract law – implied renewal/extension of expired merchant agreement by parties' conduct. * Evidence – allegations of fraud require more than ordinary civil standard; strict proof necessary. * Evidence – absence of direct cardholder complaints and police reports undermines fraud/unauthorised chargeback claims. * Civil procedure – court discussion of contractual status in judgment does not necessarily amount to unfair suo motu decision if parties had opportunity to address issues.
13 December 2024
Revision dismissed: claim was prematurely filed; delayed CMA award not set aside absent shown prejudice.
* Labour law — premature filing — claim for termination where evidence shows suspension — dismissal justified. * Arbitration — statutory 30‑day limit for CMA awards (s.88(11) ELRA) — delayed award not automatically vitiated absent prejudice. * Civil procedure — overriding objective/substantive justice — curative approach to procedural delays. * Procedural fairness — rights during suspension need not be addressed where not part of pleaded claim.
13 December 2024
Appeal dismissed: conviction for causing grievous harm upheld; minor contradictions and missing witness did not vitiate prosecution evidence.
Criminal law – causing grievous harm – proof beyond reasonable doubt – credibility of eyewitness and medical report – materiality of minor contradictions – non-production of a witness and adverse inference – framing of issues by trial court.
13 December 2024
12 December 2024
Rape conviction quashed where trial court failed to consider defence evidence and prosecution case was not proved beyond reasonable doubt.
Criminal law – Rape – Conviction based on primary/sole eyewitness testimony requires caution and must be watertight; trial court’s failure to evaluate defence evidence and address contradictions renders conviction unsafe and liable to be quashed.
11 December 2024
Appeal partly allowed: respondent owes TZS 675,000; claims for windshield and switch failed for insufficient evidence.
Contract – hire/use of vehicle – accounting for days in possession and payments; appellate review of arithmetic and fact-finding; insufficiency of evidence for property damage claims; damages quantification; costs.
11 December 2024
11 December 2024
11 December 2024
11 December 2024
10 December 2024
6 December 2024
6 December 2024
6 December 2024
4 December 2024
3 December 2024
3 December 2024
Conviction quashed where failure to medically link accused to victim’s STI and improper use of cross‑examination doctrine created reasonable doubt.
Criminal law — Grave sexual abuse (s.138C) — application of failure‑to‑cross‑examine doctrine to lay accused; probative value of medical evidence where accused not examined; delays and inconsistencies affecting credibility of child complainant; late‑raised alibi inadmissible.
3 December 2024
Appellant allowed appeal: respondent failed to strictly prove special and general damages for alleged contaminated fuel.
Torts/contract – alleged sale of contaminated fuel – requirement to strictly prove special (specific) damages; proforma invoices not proof of payment; limits of admissions in settlement agreements; discretion in awarding general damages.
2 December 2024
November 2024
Statutory compensation bars duplicate, unproven claims for allowances and salary arrears on execution of a labour reinstatement order.
Employment law – execution of Minister's order – Security of Employment Act (ss. 36, 42(5)) – employer's option to pay compensation in lieu of reinstatement – double recovery and abuse of process – requirement to prove contractual or statutory entitlements before execution.
29 November 2024
An interlocutory injunction maintaining the status quo on the applicant's mortgaged property was granted pending the main suit.
Interlocutory injunction – preservation of status quo over security property – Atilio v Mbowe three-part test: serious question to be tried, irreparable injury, balance of convenience – evidence of intention to auction collateral – costs follow event.
29 November 2024
Application for extension of time dismissed for failure to file court-ordered written submissions; no costs.
Land law – Extension of time to appeal – Failure to file written submissions as ordered – Non-compliance equates to failure to prosecute/abuse of court process – Ex parte determination; no order as to costs.
29 November 2024
Arbitral closure of the applicant's case without lawful basis violated the right to be heard; award quashed and remitted for rehearing.
* Labour law – fair hearing – refusal to adjourn and closure of party’s case – closure rendered proceedings a nullity. * Procedural competence – failure to file Form No.10 at CMA curable under Section 3B (oxygen principle) where record is before High Court. * Arbitrator’s expeditious disposal justification undermined by delay in issuing award beyond statutory period.
29 November 2024
Appellant failed to prove land was leased; unsigned family minutes had no weight and the tribunal's finding of gift in 2003 is affirmed.
Land law – ownership dispute – whether land was gifted or leased – burden of proof under section 110 Evidence Act – admissibility versus weight of documentary evidence (unsigned family meeting minutes) – limitation/possession not applicable where land accepted as gift.
29 November 2024
Appellant’s representation of ownership estops challenge to title transfer; contradictions on repayment and no shown prejudice dismiss appeal.
Land law – mortgage and transfer of title; estoppel (Evidence Act s.123) and sanctity of contract; capacity to mortgage; contradictions in evidence regarding repayment; admissibility/endorsement of exhibits (Order XIII R.4 CPC) and lack of demonstrated prejudice.
29 November 2024
Proceedings continued after a party's death without joining a legal representative are a nullity requiring retrial.
Civil procedure — death of a party — necessity to join legal representative; Continued appearance of deceased party on record — fatal irregularity; Land Disputes — revisionary powers under s.43(2) Cap 216 — nullification and remittal for retrial.
29 November 2024
29 November 2024
29 November 2024
28 November 2024
28 November 2024
28 November 2024
28 November 2024
28 November 2024
28 November 2024
Court adopts consent settlement ordering defendant to pay TZS 137,525,709.60 for unpaid NSSF contributions in instalments.
Consent judgment – adoption of parties' deed of settlement – unpaid statutory social security (NSSF) contributions and accumulated penalties – payment schedule by instalments – binding on parties and successors – no further claims upon full satisfaction – costs each party.
28 November 2024
28 November 2024
26 November 2024
Court has jurisdiction to hear a fresh suit challenging a consent decree alleged procured by fraud or misrepresentation.
Civil procedure – jurisdiction – consent (compromise) decree – whether a consent decree allegedly procured by fraud, misrepresentation or coercion can be challenged by a fresh suit – remedy of fresh suit vs review/appeal – requirement to adduce evidence when alleging fraud.
26 November 2024
Unsworn testimony of a 15‑year‑old victim is inadmissible; conviction based on such evidence was quashed and acquittal entered.
* Criminal procedure – requirement to administer oath or affirmation to witnesses in criminal proceedings (s.198(1) CPA). * Evidence – child of tender age exception (s.127 Evidence Act) – age threshold and compliance requirements. * Admissibility – unsworn testimony in criminal cases amounts to no evidence. * Sexual offences – medical report (PF3) establishes penetration but does not prove identity of the perpetrator. * Procedure – improper withholding of victim’s name in charge sheets and proceedings; identity protection pertains to published judgments per Chief Justice directions.
25 November 2024
25 November 2024
25 November 2024
25 November 2024