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
27 judgments

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27 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
June 2015
Appeal dismissed: divorce valid, property division proper; entitlement determined by proven contribution, not unpleaded procedural objections.
Family law – divorce – validity of divorce where parties long separated; Matrimonial property – division based on contribution; Proof of contribution – burden on claimant to show contribution to property; Procedural law – res judicata and locus standi cannot be raised for first time on appeal; Property division – court may limit distribution to assets existing at termination.
30 June 2015
30 June 2015
Defendants in default for failing to file defence must face ex parte proof for substantial counterclaims exceeding small-claim threshold.
Civil procedure – Default judgment – Order VIII Rules 1 and 14 CPC – effect of failure to file written statement of defence; Service – substituted service by publication – sufficiency for triggering time to file defence; Ex parte proof required where counterclaim seeks liquidated sum exceeding statutory small-claim threshold; Dismissal of original suit under Order IX Rule 8 not granted; Liquidated claims — automatic judgment without proof limited to very small sums.
30 June 2015
State vicariously liable for police shooting; special damages unproven; general damages of Tshs36,000,000 awarded with interest and costs.
Vicarious liability – employer liable for employee’s torts committed in course of employment; Special damages – must be specifically and strictly proved by receipts/vouchers; General damages – award for permanent disability, pain, suffering and loss of earning capacity; Interest and costs awarded.
30 June 2015
Appeal dismissed for want of prosecution due to prolonged unexplained absence of the appellant; costs awarded.
Civil procedure – dismissal for want of prosecution – repeated absence of party or counsel – prolonged unexplained delay (403 days) – costs awarded to respondent.
30 June 2015
Court lacks jurisdiction to challenge parliamentary debates; petition struck out for being non‑justiciable and having alternative remedies.
Constitutional law – Article 100(1) parliamentary privilege bars external interference with National Assembly debates and proceedings; Article 100(2) is defensive immunity, not an avenue for third-party attacks; Justiciability and separation of powers; Alternative remedies – section 8(2) Basic Rights and Duties Enforcement Act and Rule 68 Standing Orders; Strangers cannot benefit from interim orders in which they are not parties; Cause of action against Ethics Secretariat and Tribunal.
26 June 2015
Court lacks jurisdiction to challenge Parliamentary debates; petition barred by article 100(1) and alternative remedies, so struck out with costs.
Constitutional law – parliamentary privilege – article 100(1) absolute protection for debates, opinions and procedure; article 100(2) as defensive immunity not a cause of action – jurisdictional limits of courts. Basic Rights and Duties Enforcement Act – section 8(2) alternative remedies bar. Standing Orders – rule 68 as available Parliamentary remedy. Interim court orders – strangers cannot derive benefit from an injunction.
26 June 2015
Reported
Summary objection under Order 21 requires prima facie proof of interest or possession; registered title not mandatory for summary relief.
Civil Procedure — Order 21, Rules 57–62 — Summary objection to attachment and sale; Rule 58 — prima facie evidence of interest or possession required; no strict requirement to produce registered certificate of title in summary proceedings; mortgage deed may suffice absent proof of fraud; saleable interest of judgment-debtor assessed at date of attachment.
26 June 2015
Reported
High Court lacks jurisdiction to challenge parliamentary debates; petition struck out for lack of jurisdiction and available alternative remedies.
Constitutional law – Parliamentary privilege – Article 100(1) absolute protection for debates and opinions – Article 100(2) as defensive immunity, not a cause of action; Basic Rights and Duties Enforcement Act (Cap 3) s.8(2) – alternative remedies bar; Parliamentary Standing Orders – rule 68– availability of adequate remedy; interim orders – strangers cannot benefit; jurisdiction – High Court cannot review parliamentary proceedings.
26 June 2015
An extension application is not necessarily time‑barred; factual statements in affidavits are not always objectionable legal arguments.
Civil procedure – extension of time – whether extension application can be described as hopelessly out of time; frivolous/vexatious test for extension applications; affidavits – permissible factual statements versus impermissible legal arguments (O XIX r 3(1)).
26 June 2015
Court enforces loan agreement, limits interest to six months, and awards plaintiff outstanding principal, damages, interest and costs.
Commercial law – loan agreement – interpretation of contractual interest clause limiting interest to six months. Evidence – probative value of petty cash vouchers and bank pay-in slips; need to state purpose of payment. Dishonoured cheque admitted as evidence. Duress – alleged coercion in caution statement not established. Remedies – assessment of outstanding principal, general damages and pre- and post-judgment interest.
25 June 2015
Court allowed repair/indemnity with interest, set aside unpleaded new-vehicle award and inappropriate general damages.
Civil procedure – scheduling (speed track) orders – expiry of scheduling order does not render subsequent proceedings nullity; scheduling may be renewed.* Civil pleading – reliefs not pleaded – court cannot grant an entirely different relief (e.g., a new vehicle) under "any other relief" absent pleadings and supporting evidence.* Damages – general damages for death – death of a spouse is not necessarily a monetary loss compensable by general damages without proof of pecuniary loss.
24 June 2015
Expiry of scheduling order not fatal; unpleaded new-vehicle and general damages awards set aside; repair indemnity ordered.
Civil procedure – scheduling (speed track) order – expiry of scheduling order does not render subsequent proceedings null; speed track may be renewed. Relief – pleadings – court cannot grant an unpleaded and inconsistent relief (new vehicle) under 'any other relief' absent evidence and foundation in the plaint. Damages – general damages – loss of spouse is not a monetary loss warranting the awarded sum; general damages must be justified by compensable loss. Remedies – insurer liable for repair/indemnity and interest at a just rate.
24 June 2015
Application to restore dismissed suit dismissed: alleged traffic delay uncorroborated and insufficient to show sufficient cause.
Civil procedure – Restoration of dismissed suit – Setting aside dismissal – Requirement to show sufficient cause for non‑appearance at 1st Pre‑Trial Conference or mention – diligence and corroboration required; hearsay insufficient.
22 June 2015
The appeal was held time‑barred because the appellant failed to credibly prove timely application and collection of certified copies.
Limitation of actions — appeal to High Court from District Court — 90 days (First Schedule, Law of Limitation Act) — section 19(2) exclusion for time to obtain certified copies — requirement to apply under Order XX r.20 Civil Procedure Code — necessity of credible proof of application and collection — credibility of documentary evidence — time‑barred appeal.
18 June 2015
Convictions for false pretences, forgery and uttering quashed for lack of intent and insufficient evidence.
Criminal law – obtaining money by false pretences – mens rea; Forgery and uttering – affidavit as court form; Credibility of alleged repayment agreements; Appellate review quashing convictions for lack of intent.
15 June 2015
The appellate court ordered the applicant's reinstatement, finding misapplied evidence and wrongful attribution of vicarious liability.
Employment law — wrongful dismissal; Industrial Court revisional jurisdiction; appellate reappraisal of evidence; natural justice (right to be heard); bias and participation of disciplinary/appellate authorities; vicarious liability; remedy of reinstatement and back pay.
15 June 2015
Application to file a petition without the judgment was improperly brought; appeals from Primary Court are governed by s.25 Magistrates Courts Act.
Criminal procedure — Appeals from Primary Courts — Applicability of Criminal Procedure Act provisions (s.362) to appeals from Primary Court via District Court to High Court — Magistrates Courts Act (s.25) governs such appeals; petition filed in district court and no requirement to accompany petition with proceedings/judgment.
12 June 2015
10 June 2015
Guarantors held jointly and severally liable for unpaid bank facilities; plaintiff awarded principal, 12% interest and costs.
Banking law — recovery of unpaid credit facilities; evidence — letters of offer, bank statements, demand notices and acknowledgement letters establish debt; guarantee and indemnity — guarantors jointly and severally liable; interest — awarded at 12% per annum from specified date until satisfaction; costs awarded to successful bank claimant.
5 June 2015
Guarantors held jointly and severally liable for unpaid bank loans; plaintiff awarded principal, 12% interest and costs.
Banking law – loan and overdraft facilities – existence and repayment; Guarantees – guarantee and indemnity deeds – guarantors’ joint and several liability; Remedies – award of principal, statutory interest and costs.
5 June 2015
Court confirmed CMA award: employee was promoted and underpaid; revision dismissed.
Labour law – Promotion/elevation – Substance of change in position can establish promotion despite separate contracts. Employment law – Salary arrears – Evidence of wage slips and employer conduct can establish underpayment. Labour law – Termination payments – Employer’s obligations under section 44(1) ELRA and enforcement by CMA. Civil procedure – Revision of CMA award – High Court will not disturb Commission findings where supported by record.
5 June 2015
5 June 2015
Applicants failed to show good cause for extension of time to file revision of a CMA award; application dismissed.
Labour law – extension of time – good cause – transfer of arbitrator and lack of personal service not good cause; time runs from receipt of CMA award; unsupported claims of union unavailability do not establish diligence.
4 June 2015
4 June 2015
Applicants failed to show good cause for extension of time to revise CMA award; application dismissed.
Labour law – extension of time – requirement to show good cause – arbitrator transfer and lack of contact not sufficient – time runs from receipt of CMA award – defective affidavits and unsupported excuses cannot justify indulgence.
1 June 2015
Convictions of first two appellants quashed for unreliable identification; third convicted of rape but not armed robbery.
Criminal law — visual identification; cautionary approach where identification is main evidence; cautioned statements — requirement to hold inquiry/trial‑within‑a‑trial when repudiated; identification parade — compliance with PGO 231/232 and exhibit formalities; armed robbery (s.287A) — weapon must be used to obtain or retain property; doctrine of common intention; rape — PF3/medical evidence and victim’s age considerations.
1 June 2015