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
25 judgments

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25 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
April 2022
Court certified issues on jurisdiction: time-bar and wrong forum for determination by the Court of Appeal.
Land appeal — Third appeal certificate under s.47(3) LDC Act — Certification only for points of law — Time limitation and forum choice go to jurisdiction — s.5(2)(c) AJA; jurisdictional questions suitable for Court of Appeal determination.
29 April 2022
Applicants granted leave to appeal on arguable issues including locus, customary title, letter of offer and assessors' opinions.
Leave to appeal — whether arguable issues of law or fact exist warranting appellate consideration. Locus in quo — discretionary and not automatic; necessity depends on facts. Customary occupation and compensation — entitlement upon survey/planning declaration requires evidence appraisal. Certificate of right of occupancy — issue as to requirement of prior letter of offer. Double allocation — requires two competing titles; absent here on record. Assessors’ opinions — propriety and authenticity to be determined on appeal. Abridging/combining grounds of appeal — accepted practice where grounds are related.
29 April 2022
28 April 2022
28 April 2022
Application for revision struck out as time-barred; electronic filing delay and lay litigant status insufficient for condonation.
Employment law – Revision of CMA award – Time bar – Computation of six-week limitation period from date of service; Electronic filing rules – Judicature and Application of Laws (Electronic Filing) Rules 2018; Condonation – Network problems and litigant’s lay status insufficient absent proper application; Labour dispute – no order as to costs.
27 April 2022
27 April 2022
Appeal allowed: judgment quashed for failure to adjudicate counterclaim and insufficient proof the fire triggered contractual insurance relief.
Civil procedure – counterclaim – requirement to file reply and duty of court to make orders on counterclaims (Order VIII r.9, r.11, r.12; Order XX r.6); Decree – defectiveness where counterclaim outcome omitted; Contract law – interpretation and effect of insurance/force majeure clause in loan agreement (clause 8.2.3) and burden of proof to establish conditions triggering insurer indemnity; Evidence – standard of proof on balance of probabilities and necessity of supporting reports for fire incidents; Procedure – proceeding in absence of a party and exercise of judicial discretion.
27 April 2022
27 April 2022
Alleged misadvice by counsel, unsupported by the counsel’s affidavit, is hearsay and not sufficient cause to extend time.
Civil procedure – extension of time – sufficient cause – factors to consider (length of delay, reasons, diligence, prejudice, conduct, balance of interests). Evidence – affidavits – statements referring to another person’s conduct or advice require that person’s affidavit; otherwise they amount to hearsay. Professional advice – alleged misguidance by counsel is not a ground for extension absent evidential corroboration.
27 April 2022
25 April 2022
21 April 2022
21 April 2022
21 April 2022
21 April 2022
Leave to appeal granted because alleged failure to read assessors’ opinions and limitation raise arguable jurisdictional issues.
Leave to appeal – whether proposed grounds raise arguable issues; assessors’ opinions – failure to read opinions to parties; limitation – alleged time-bar; jurisdictional issues; section 47(2) Land Disputes Courts Act.
20 April 2022
A prior final judgment upholding a property sale bars relitigation of ownership under res judicata.
Civil procedure – res judicata – section 9 CPC – matter directly and substantially in issue previously decided by competent court – bar to multiplicity of suits. Finality of litigation – prior High Court decision upholding auction sale and bona fide purchaser – no appeal taken. Abuse of process – joinder of Commissioner for Lands and Attorney General as technical device to evade res judicata. Preliminary objections – where one is determinative court need not decide remaining points.
20 April 2022
Land claim dismissed as res judicata after earlier final judgment upheld the legality of the auction sale.
Civil procedure – Res judicata under section 9 CPC – matter directly and substantially in issue in former suit; finality of litigation and abuse of court process; preliminary objections on pure point of law (Mukisa Biscuit).
20 April 2022
14 April 2022
13 April 2022
12 April 2022
11 April 2022
6 April 2022
4 April 2022
Court upholds sale by co‑administrators excluding the appellant as valid to protect heirs' interests.
Probate — administration of estate; validity of sale by subset of co‑administrators; inventory and distribution of estate proceeds; limits of appellate review — issues not raised below; presumption of correctness of court record; protection of heirs' interests.
1 April 2022
1 April 2022