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
41 judgments

Court registries

  • Filters
  • Judges
  • Alphabet
Sort by:
41 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
February 2022
28 February 2022
28 February 2022
28 February 2022
28 February 2022
28 February 2022
The appellant’s village land allocation was void for failure to comply with required application, assembly approval and district consent.
Land law – village land allocation – requirement for written application, village assembly approval (s.8(5) Village Land Act) and District Council consent (Reg.76) – non‑compliance renders allocation void; Civil procedure – annexures to pleadings are not exhibits and cannot be relied on as evidence; Non‑joinder of necessary party – misjoinder/non‑joinder not fatal (Order 1 r.9 CPC).
28 February 2022
28 February 2022
High Court set aside referral to DLHT, holding matrimonial property disputes must be decided by the matrimonial court.
High Court supervisory powers — suo motu revision of subordinate courts; limitation inapplicable to court-initiated revision; Matrimonial property — characterization and division are matrimonial court matters; DLHT lacks jurisdiction to determine matrimonial property when matter remitted to take additional evidence; functus officio and usurpation of superior court's directive.
25 February 2022
Administrator’s claim accrued on grant of letters; appellant found to be a bona fide purchaser and appeal allowed with costs.
Land law – recovery of land – limitation: administrator’s claim treated as if no interval between death and grant (s.35 Limitation Act); Assessors’ opinion – chairman may depart if reasons given; Letters of administration – validity challenge lies before issuing court, not DLHT; Bona fide purchaser – protection where purchaser made reasonable inquiries, was supplied with letters of administration, paid value, occupied and improved property.
25 February 2022
Appellant failed to prove ownership; assessors’ written opinions were properly availed and appeal dismissed with costs.
Land law – ownership versus permission to use; burden of proof in civil cases; assessors’ written opinions must be in record and read to parties; weight of oral evidence and requirement for documentary proof in land disputes.
25 February 2022
24 February 2022
24 February 2022
24 February 2022
24 February 2022
24 February 2022
24 February 2022
22 February 2022
22 February 2022
21 February 2022
21 February 2022
An arbitration clause does not bar courts from granting repossession under the Financial Leasing Act for undisputed lease default.
Financial Leasing Act (CAP 417) – s.13(4)(b) – lessor’s right to repossession on undisputed default; arbitration clause does not oust court jurisdiction for statutory repossession remedies. Civil procedure – statutory special procedure vs interlocutory application – repossession application under Financial Leasing Act is a self-standing statutory remedy. Contract law – arbitration clauses apply to disputed matters (damages, unpaid balances), not to enforcement of agreed remedial options on undisputed default.
21 February 2022
21 February 2022
18 February 2022
Applicant failed to prove good cause to set aside dismissal for want of prosecution; application dismissed, no costs.
Civil procedure – setting aside dismissal for want of prosecution – requirement to show good cause; non‑service and illness claims must be credible and supported by evidence; duty of litigant/advocate to prosecute diligently; restoration may be refused where conduct amounts to parking litigation and would prejudice respondent.
18 February 2022
Where taxation disallows more than one-sixth of a bill, the bill must be disallowed under Order 48 unless reasons justify otherwise.
Advocate Remuneration Order, 2015 – Order 48 – where more than one-sixth of a bill is disallowed the party presenting the bill is not entitled to costs; proviso allows taxing officer to disregard instruction fees when computing one-sixth; taxing officer must state reasons if not applying Order 48 consequences.
18 February 2022
16 February 2022
15 February 2022
Extension granted where tribunal lacked jurisdiction due to failure to serve summons and denial of right to be heard.
Land law – execution of decree – eviction – revision of execution order – service of summons and jurisdiction over a respondent. Civil procedure – extension of time under Law of Limitation Act s.14(1) – requirement to show good cause (length of delay, reasons, prejudice). Right to be heard (audi alteram partem) – effect of failure to issue/serve summons – consequences on validity of Tribunal’s orders.
15 February 2022
15 February 2022
14 February 2022
11 February 2022
11 February 2022
Tribunal dismissed application without hearing appellant's explanation; decision violated right to be heard and was set aside for rehearing.
Land — procedural fairness — dismissal for non-compliance with tribunal order — requirement to afford party opportunity to be heard. Administrative law — principles of natural justice — right to a fair hearing under Article 13(6)(a) — breach renders decision a nullity. Remedy — setting aside impugned decision and remitting matter for rehearing before different chairman and assessors.
11 February 2022
Complaint challenging retrenchment was time-barred; limitation runs from employer's final decision to terminate.
Labour law — limitation period for unfair termination disputes — Rule 10(1) GN No.64/2007 — retrenchment agreement as contract — commencement of limitation: date of employer's final decision to terminate.
11 February 2022
10 February 2022
9 February 2022
8 February 2022
7 February 2022
7 February 2022
7 February 2022
3 February 2022