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
23 judgments

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23 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
April 2021
29 April 2021
29 April 2021
Failure to attach the drawn order to a memorandum of appeal renders the appeal incompetent and it was struck out with costs.
Civil procedure – Appeals from District Court orders – Order XXXIX Rule 1 and Order XL Rule 1 CPC – memorandum of appeal must be accompanied by a drawn decree/order; Ruling is distinct from drawn order; Non‑compliance renders appeal incompetent and incurable by overriding objective; Remedy — striking out appeal with costs.
27 April 2021
High Court revised an unlawfully low fine under Plant Protection Act s.24, enhancing it to the statutory minimum and ordering payment of the balance.
Criminal revision – sections 372 and 373 Criminal Procedure Act – High Court’s power to examine subordinate court records and vary sentences. Statutory interpretation – Plant Protection Act s.24 – mandatory minimum fine of TZS 10,000,000 for false/misleading labelling of plant protection substances. Sentence enhancement – High Court may enhance subordinate court’s sentence where original sentence is contrary to clear statutory prescription; non-payment of balance to attract alternative imprisonment term.
27 April 2021
Court granted extension to file a written defence to a third-party notice, finding the applicant showed good cause.
Civil procedure — Extension of time — Judicial discretion to grant extension — Criteria: promptness, satisfactory explanation for delay, and prejudice to respondent. Third party proceedings — Time for filing written statement of defence to third party notice (21 days) and circumstances permitting extension. Interpretation — What constitutes "good/sufficient cause" is fact-specific and determined by reference to all circumstances.
24 April 2021
Extension of time refused where applicant failed to show sufficient cause and was duly served but dilatory.
Civil procedure – Extension of time – Discretionary relief requires sufficient reasons and diligence; not an automatic right. Service of process – Affidavit evidence of service and refusal to accept summons – effect on notice and entitlement to be heard. Evidence of absence – Passport proof insufficient where records show presence during key hearing dates. Appeal – First appellate court’s discretionary refusal to extend time will not be disturbed absent error in law or fact.
23 April 2021
Res judicata bars the applicant's subsequent land claim where she was in privity and the earlier decision was final.
Civil procedure – res judicata – application requires competent tribunal, same subject matter and issues, final decision, same parties or privies. Privity – spouse/witness bound by earlier final judgment; failure to join earlier proceedings estops later claims. Appeal – appellate court will uphold district tribunal where doctrine correctly applied and arguments do not rebut res judicata.
22 April 2021
Applicant failed to show good cause for extension of time to file leave to appeal; application dismissed with costs.
Extension of time – Judicial discretion to grant extensions – Applicant must show good cause, account for delay and exercise diligence; failure to comply with earlier extensions and unexplained delay may justify dismissal as abuse of process; costs awarded.
20 April 2021
Appeal dismissed; evidence (ID parade, withdrawal receipt, recovered cash/devices, confession) proved electronic fraud and three-year sentence upheld.
Cybercrimes Act 2015 – electronic interference with mobile phone – unlawful access and fraudulent withdrawal via mobile money; corroboration by transaction receipt and recovery of devices. Evidence – identification parade, witness corroboration and confession – evaluation and weight of evidence in criminal trials. Appeal – first appellate court's duty to re-evaluate entire evidence; sentencing review.
19 April 2021
Appeal dismissed: conviction affirmed based on voluntary caution statement and recovery/identification of stolen property.
Criminal law – Burglary and stealing – Proof beyond reasonable doubt by recovery and identification of stolen property; voluntary caution statement as corroboration; recent possession doctrine. Evidence – Admissibility of caution statement – inquiry into voluntariness and awareness of rights. Criminal procedure – Consideration of defence evidence in trial judgment; sentence review – within lawful discretion.
19 April 2021
Applicant failed to show sufficient cause for extending time; sick note post‑dated the extension and application dismissed with costs.
Extension of time – application for leave to appeal – requirement to show 'good cause' and diligence; Sickness as ground for extension – proof must cover the relevant period; Pleadings requirement – written submissions without counter‑affidavit inadmissible; Judicial discretion – exercised per Lyamuya, Bushiri and Esso principles.
17 April 2021
High Court granted leave to appeal on a substantial point of law regarding Ward Tribunal pecuniary jurisdiction.
Appellate jurisdiction — Leave to appeal — High Court's power under AJA s.5(1)(c), CoA Rules r.45 and Land Disputes Courts Act s.47(1); Leave granted where intended appeal raises point of law on Ward Tribunal pecuniary jurisdiction (20-acre farm valuation).
16 April 2021
15 April 2021
15 April 2021
14 April 2021
Statutory rape conviction quashed where prosecution proved penetration and age but failed to prove identity beyond reasonable doubt.
Criminal law – Rape (statutory rape) – Elements: penetration (however slight), age and identity; medical evidence and birth certificate as proof of penetration and age. Evidence – Victim testimony in sexual offences must be scrutinised with caution; prosecution must prove identity beyond reasonable doubt. Criminal appeal – Material contradictions and absence of eyewitness can render a conviction unsafe; doubts resolved in favour of accused.
14 April 2021
Applicant’s bid to set aside dismissal for want of prosecution dismissed for failing to show good and sufficient cause.
Civil procedure – setting aside dismissal for want of prosecution – restoration of dismissed appeal – requirement to show good and sufficient cause – evidentiary burden to explain non-appearance – court’s discretionary power and case-management considerations.
13 April 2021
Conviction quashed where variance in victim identity and insufficient proof undermined the prosecution's case.
Criminal law – Rape – Proof beyond reasonable doubt – Variance between victim’s name in charge sheet and evidence; necessity to prove specific particulars (name, date, time, place); bedwetting and non-specific community evidence insufficient to establish rape.
12 April 2021
Rape conviction quashed where prosecution failed to prove link between accused and child's pregnancy amid unexplained delay.
Criminal law – Rape – Proof beyond reasonable doubt – Nexus between accused and pregnancy must be established. Evidence – Child complainant – weight of testimony and necessity of analytical evaluation by trial court. Medical evidence – PF3 and medical examination insufficient without proof of pregnancy age and timing of intercourse. Procedure – Importance of calling the investigating officer to explain delays and investigative gaps. Principle – Reasonable doubts must be resolved in favour of the accused.
12 April 2021
9 April 2021
9 April 2021
High Court quashed juvenile-court parentage and custody orders for procedural breaches and denial of the child's right to be heard.
Child custody and parentage — Revision under s.44(1)(b) of Magistrates' Courts Act — Juvenile Court procedure — DNA testing ordered prematurely contrary to Rule 61 — Child not joined nor heard contrary to Rule 59 and Article 12 UNCRC — Failure to obtain social inquiry report and observe Rules on custody, access and maintenance (Parts VIII and IX).
9 April 2021
Extension of time granted where delay was beyond applicant’s control and the applicant acted diligently.
Extension of time – sufficient cause – delay due to late supply of judgment and striking out of initial application – diligence and denial of justice – discretionary relief.
8 April 2021