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
173 judgments

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173 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
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
March 2021
District Court jurisdiction upheld where CPC excludes Primary Courts and withdrawal of trial objection bars raising it on appeal.
Civil procedure – jurisdiction of subordinate courts – applicability of the Civil Procedure Code to Primary Courts – section 3 CPC excludes Primary Courts; pecuniary limits are maximums not minima – withdrawal of jurisdictional objection at trial precludes raising it on appeal.
25 March 2021
Court granted extension to file appeal due to applicant’s disability, poverty, remoteness and advocate’s delaying conduct.
Extension of time; Law of Limitation Act s.14(1); High Court inherent powers (Civil Procedure Code); factors for granting extension (cause, length, accounting, prejudice, illegality); disability, poverty and advocate’s conduct as sufficient cause.
25 March 2021
18 March 2021
Uncontroverted illness and pursuit of appeal constituted sufficient cause to extend time to file a bill of costs.
Law of Limitation Act s14(1) – extension of time – sufficient cause – discretionary relief; uncontested affidavit – serious illness (heart disease and cancer) and pursuit of appeal as sufficient cause; award of costs – substantial justice; District Land and Housing Tribunal erred in dismissing ex parte application; High Court may step into Tribunal's shoes to grant extension.
18 March 2021
Tribunal wrongly applied res judicata; applicants’ challenge to property sale must be heard on the merits.
Civil procedure – res judicata – application of section 9 Civil Procedure Code – five requirements for res judicata (same issue, same parties, same title, competent court, finally decided). Preliminary objection – suitability for determination at preliminary stage – mixed questions of law and fact. Land law – mortgage and sale of property – distinction between challenge to mortgage and challenge to sale. Remedy – quashing of decision and remittal for hearing on merits.
11 March 2021
Court granted extension to file appeal due to late supply of certified judgment, finding sufficient cause and exercising discretion.
Land law – Extension of time – Application under s.41(2) Land Disputes Courts Act – Whether delay in supply of certified judgment amounts to sufficient cause – Court’s discretion and consideration of interest of justice.
9 March 2021
Revision dismissed where prosecution argued merits but failed to show illegality or irregularity on the trial record.
Criminal procedure — Revisional jurisdiction under sections 372 and 373 CPA — limits and purpose. Revision is not a substitute for appeal — merits and sufficiency of evidence are appellate matters. Revision requires clear illegality, irregularity or incorrectness apparent on the record. Ex parte hearing permitted where respondent absents after published notice.
8 March 2021
Applicant granted 20‑day extension to appeal; court exercised discretion recognising constitutional right to appeal.
Land law – Extension of time to appeal – Discretionary power of High Court to grant extension – constitutional right to appeal – consider prior unsuccessful attempts and respondent’s non‑opposition.
5 March 2021
February 2021
Applicants charged with economic and related offences admitted to bail subject to mandatory section 36(5) conditions.
Criminal procedure – Bail pending trial – Right to bail for baillable offences – Statutory mandatory conditions under section 36(5) of the Economic and Organized Crime Control Act where alleged value exceeds TZS 10,000,000. Economic and organized crime – deposit or security in cash or property; surrender of travel documents; restriction of movement; sureties and bonds.
12 February 2021
Stay of execution granted pending challenge to a consent settlement due to alleged fraud, irreparable loss and unopposed application.
Civil procedure – Stay of execution – Order XXI Rules 24–27 – discretionary relief; requirements: prima facie prospects/high chances of success, balance of convenience, irreparable loss; allegations of fraud vitiating consent decrees; effect of unopposed applications.
12 February 2021
A registered deed of settlement filed under s95 and Order XXIII Rule 3 is adopted as a binding court decree, settling the case.
Civil procedure – Deed of settlement – Registration and adoption under section 95 and Order XXIII Rule 3 CPC – Effect as court decree Settlement enforcement – Terms binding parties and extinguishing further claims arising from same cause of action Finality – Settlement filed in court becomes a final, enforceable judgment; parties bear own costs as agreed
2 February 2021