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
884 judgments

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884 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
July 2025
The court struck out a land recovery suit for non-compliance with mandatory notice requirements in government proceedings.
Government Proceedings Act – Compliance with section 6(2) – Service of 90 days’ notice to Solicitor General mandatory.
31 July 2025
The court dismissed a land ownership claim, affirming the 1st defendant's lawful ownership based on unchallenged tribunal judgment.
Land Law – Ownership dispute over Plot No. 138, Block 'D' in Mbinga Town – Validity of sale – Identity and credibility of claimant.
23 July 2025
Plaintiff's claim of land ownership dismissed due to lack of proof, defendants found lawful occupants through village government allocation.
Land law – ownership – disputed land – plaintiff's claim of ownership from inheritance – defendants' claim of land allocation by government during operation vijiji.
23 July 2025
The court upheld the conviction for unlawful possession of government trophy, affirming correct legal procedure and evidence handling.
Criminal Law – wildlife conservation – unlawful possession of government trophy – identification of evidence – chain of custody – procedural fairness.
22 July 2025
Appeal partly allowed; conviction for armed robbery set aside, conviction for grievous harm upheld with five-year sentence.
Criminal law – Armed robbery – Causing grievous harm – Evidence evaluation – Sentencing – Common intention.
22 July 2025
18 July 2025
18 July 2025
17 July 2025
Court approves adoption of child, emphasizing the child's best interest and compliance with legal requirements.
Child Adoption – determination of best interest of the child – compliance with legal procedures for adoption
16 July 2025
The applicants received a 14-day extension to file a revision application due to technical and electoral-related delays.
Labor Law – Extension of time – Grounds for delay – Technical delay – Electoral participation.
14 July 2025
14 July 2025
Court upheld the legality of fines and livestock confiscation under by-laws for grazing in restricted areas.
Environmental Management Act - by-laws - legal validity of fines - livestock grazing - lease agreement compliance
11 July 2025
10 July 2025
Ex parte judgment can only be contested via appeal after refusal to set aside the order for ex parte hearing.
Civil Procedure – Ex parte judgment – Setting aside – Jurisdiction – Functus officio – Right to appeal.
9 July 2025
Court grants extension of time for inmate to appeal due to justified issues of delay and reliance on prison services.
Criminal procedure – Extension of time – Application for appeal out of time due to delay in receiving court records and prison assistance.
8 July 2025
Application for extension of time struck out due to failure to attach the impugned ruling.
Preliminary objection – incompetence – failure to attach ruling in application for extension of time
3 July 2025
2 July 2025
The application for review of a retrial order was dismissed, as the errors alleged were not apparent for review.
Civil procedure - review of judgment - errors on the face of record - retrial order versus reevaluation of evidence.
2 July 2025
June 2025
30 June 2025
26 June 2025
26 June 2025
26 June 2025
26 June 2025
26 June 2025
25 June 2025
25 June 2025
19 June 2025
19 June 2025
19 June 2025
19 June 2025
19 June 2025
19 June 2025
19 June 2025
Appellate court found victim’s age and penetration proved, reversed acquittal and convicted respondent of rape with 30-year sentence.
Criminal law – Sexual offences – Statutory rape – Proof of age and penetration – Child of tender age’s evidence may suffice if credible – Medical evidence corroborating penetration – Appellate re-evaluation under s.382(1)(a)(i) Criminal Procedure Act.
17 June 2025
16 June 2025
A notice to rectify a land register that cancels title must give reasons, provide hearing and respect constitutional compensation protections.
Land registration – notice of intention to rectify – substance over form: notice that effects automatic cancellation is a decision; administrative bodies must give reasons; right to be heard (Article 13(6)(a)); constitutional protection of property and requirement for fair and adequate compensation (Article 24).
13 June 2025
Appellate court quashed judgment and ordered retrial where hearsay, contradictions and locus visits tainted the proceeding.
Land disputes — evidence — hearsay inadmissibility under s.62 Evidence Act; burden and standard of proof in civil suits (s.110, balance of probabilities); locus in quo visits — when justified and need for fair procedure; procedural irregularity warranting trial de novo.
12 June 2025
A conditional notice to rectify a land title that imposes a time limit and automatic cancellation is a decision appealable under section 102(1).
Land Registration Act s.102(1) – appealability of notices of intention to rectify – notice amounting to decision where conditional cancellation and time limit imposed; compliance with s.102(1)(a) by filing notice of intention via e‑CMS; constitutional rights may be raised in ordinary High Court proceedings; administrative decisions and duty to give reasons/right to be heard.
12 June 2025
Applicant failed to prove late supply of proceedings or show diligence; extension of time refused and costs awarded.
Extension of time – Law of Limitation Act s.14(1) and CPC s.95 – applicant must give good and sufficient cause per Lyamuya: account for all delay, show diligence – failure to produce or prove late supply of trial proceedings – delay attributable to applicant’s negligence – application dismissed with costs.
10 June 2025
10 June 2025
10 June 2025
5 June 2025
Appellate court affirms conviction for personating a public officer; cautioned statement not mandatory and prosecution proved case beyond reasonable doubt.
Criminal law – Personating public officer – Elements: pretending to be in public service and intending to benefit – proof beyond reasonable doubt. Evidence – Cautioned statement not mandatory; admissibility optional and non-production not fatal where other credible evidence exists. Evidence – Minor contradictions in peripheral details do not vitiate prosecution case. Sentencing – Sentence under s.35 Penal Code lawful; first offender status a mitigating factor.
3 June 2025
A court must ascertain an accused's age; trying a child in an adult court renders proceedings a nullity.
Jurisdiction – Age of accused as jurisdictional fact; Law of the Child Act – requirement to refer suspected child to Juvenile Court; Plea of guilty – does not cure jurisdictional defect; Proceedings in court lacking jurisdiction are a nullity; Remedy – nullification and release, with option to re‑prosecute in proper court.
3 June 2025
May 2025
Proceedings nullified and conviction quashed where DPP consent and jurisdiction certificate were not duly endorsed; retrial ordered.
Criminal law – unlawful possession of government trophy; jurisdiction – requirement for DPP’s consent and certificate conferring jurisdiction to be duly endorsed and acknowledged by trial court; failure to endorse renders proceedings a nullity; retrial ordered.
30 May 2025
An appellant must give clear, consistent, and sufficient reasons to obtain extension of time to set aside an ex parte judgment.
Civil procedure – extension of time – condonation requires good and sufficient cause – applicant must give a detailed, consistent explanation of delay. Land procedure – ex parte proceedings – necessity for proof of service or substituted service under Tribunal regulations before proceeding ex parte. Appellate review – interference with discretionary refusal of extension only where exercise of discretion was erroneous.
29 May 2025
Appellate court upheld respondent’s ownership on balance of probabilities and found denial to amend defence justified; appeal dismissed.
Land law – ownership dispute over two acres – burden of proof on balance of probabilities; credibility and corroboration of witnesses. Civil procedure – amendment of pleadings – refusal justified where application made after closure of other party’s case and would prejudice that party. Appellate review – first appeal as rehearing; appellate duty to re-evaluate evidence and make independent findings of fact.
29 May 2025
Claim of slander failed for lack of proof, hearsay evidence and contradictions; trial judgment set aside.
Defamation — proof on balance of probabilities — parties bound by pleadings — hearsay and contradictions in dates undermine claimant’s case — qualified privilege must be raised and proved.
28 May 2025
Court struck out suit for failure to mediate and lack of pecuniary jurisdiction; e‑filing and e‑signature deemed valid.
Civil procedure — Electronic filing — plaint filed via eCMS using MS Word and annexures in PDF satisfies Order IV and Electronic Filing Rules (rules 11, 13). Contract law — Dispute resolution — contractual mediation clause must be exhausted before initiating court proceedings. Jurisdiction — Pecuniary jurisdiction — suit value within District Court threshold precludes High Court jurisdiction. Pleadings — Signature requirement — electronic user ID deemed compliance with Order VI r.14 by Electronic Filing Rules.
28 May 2025
Appeal dismissed: appellant afforded fair trial, prosecution proved grievous harm beyond reasonable doubt, sentence upheld.
Criminal law – causing grievous harm – proof beyond reasonable doubt – eyewitness and medical evidence; Right to a fair trial – right to give defence, call witnesses and cross-examine – adjournment and failure to produce witnesses; Sentencing – consideration of mitigating factors; Self-defence raised but insufficient to create reasonable doubt.
27 May 2025