High Court Commercial Division

The Commercial Court was officially inaugurated on 15th September, 1999. The Government of Tanzania endorsed the recommendations in 1997. It is a division of the High Court of Tanzania. The difference with other High Court Registries is that this court specializes in the determination of commercial disputes only.

3,215 judgments
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3,215 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
July 2025
Court ruled vehicles under joint ownership cannot be attached for execution of unrelated decree.
Civil Procedure - Objection Proceedings; Joint Ownership; Execution of Decree - Attachable Property; Legal Interest in Attached Vehicles.
11 July 2025
Application for execution by arrest and detention dismissed due to unmet legal preconditions under the Civil Procedure Code.
Civil Procedure - execution of decree by arrest and detention - legal preconditions under Order XXI; Directors' liability in execution proceedings.
11 July 2025
The counter claim was struck out for failure to provide the required statutory notice in government actions.
Limitation of actions; breach of contract; statutory notice requirement in government proceedings.
11 July 2025
Parties must engage in agreed pre-litigation negotiation before addressing a court for resolution.
Contract Law - breach of contract - preliminary objection - pre-litigation negotiation requirement - compliance with contractual clauses.
11 July 2025
Parties settled a breach of contract case via consent judgment with agreed payments and legal fees.
Contract Law – Breach of Contract – Settlement Agreement – Consent Judgment – Compromise of Suit
10 July 2025
A foreign entity without assets in Tanzania is required to post security for costs in a Tanzanian court case.
Civil Procedure - Security for Costs - Foreign Plaintiff - Conditions for Security - Premature Application for Stay of Proceedings.
4 July 2025
Application to set aside sale of property due to alleged irregularities dismissed; applicant lacked proof of substantial injury.
Execution of decree – setting aside sale of property – procedural irregularities and locus standi – lack of substantial injury.
4 July 2025
Insurance breach occurred when respondent refused indemnity payment for theft loss under goods in transit policy.
Insurance Law – Breach of insurance contract – Refusal to settle indemnity upon loss – Contractual obligations in transportation.
4 July 2025
Court finds petitioner's Counsel has a conflict of interest, disqualifying him in a corporate prejudice case.
Commercial law – Unfair prejudice in corporate affairs – Conflict of interest and legal representation in corporate litigation.
4 July 2025
Defendant's breach of vehicle credit sale agreements led court to authorize repossession, deny payment claims but award damages.
Contract law – Breach of credit sale agreements – Remedies for non-payment – Repossession and recovery costs – General damages awarded.
4 July 2025
Defendant breached Credit Sale Agreement; plaintiff entitled to repossession and costs, but not outstanding debt post-repossession.
Commercial Law – Credit Sale Agreement – Breach of contract – Repossession of assets upon default – Claim for outstanding debt and repossession costs.
4 July 2025
Court finds Defendant breached sale agreement, authorizes repossession and sale of vehicles, dismisses counterclaims.
Contract Law – Breach of Sale and Purchase Agreement – Repossession and Disposal of Vehicles – Lack of Supporting Evidence for Counterclaims.
4 July 2025
Board resolutions are unnecessary for lawsuits against external parties unless involving internal corporate conflicts.
Company law - Board resolution - necessity - External disputes vs. internal conflicts - Companies Act section 147 interpretation - Ostensible authority in legal proceedings
4 July 2025
The court ruled on breach of an agency agreement, awarding substantiated claims and denying other relief due to lack of evidence.
Contract Law – Breach of agency agreement – Remedies available – Proof of claims and damages – Default judgment
4 July 2025
Execution of judgment stayed due to pending appeal and intact stay order despite non-compliance with conditions.
Execution proceedings - Stay order - Validity of a stay order despite non-compliance with condition - Legal consequences of failure to deposit bank guarantee.
4 July 2025
Liquidation ordered for a company unable to pay debts, prioritizing preferential creditors over others.
Company Law – Winding up – Insolvency due to financial losses – Priority of creditor payments – Preferential creditors.
2 July 2025
Parties settled a loan breach case with a Consent Judgment, agreeing on payment terms to resolve claims.
Commercial Law – Loan Agreement Breach – Consent Judgment Adoption – Payment Settlement Terms
1 July 2025
June 2025
Commercial Court allows unlimited time for clerical corrections under specific rules, overriding general limitation period.
Commercial law – rectification of clerical errors – time limits for correction under specific court rules versus general limitation law.
30 June 2025
Summary judgment granted due to defendant's failure to defend claims based on dishonoured cheques and contract breach.
Commercial law – Summary judgment – Breach of contract – Dishonoured cheques – Entitlement to damages and costs.
30 June 2025
The court recorded and adopted a mutually agreed settlement to resolve a contract dispute.
30 June 2025
Petition struck out for non-compliance with arbitration clause in contract, rendering it incompetent.
Contract Law – arbitration agreement – jurisdiction of courts – enforcement of contractual arbitration clauses
30 June 2025
Extension of time granted as applicant demonstrated sufficient cause for delay in filing application for reference.
Civil procedure - Application for extension of time - Requirements for demonstrating sufficient cause for delay.
30 June 2025
Court ruled in favor of the bank for breach of loan agreement due to non-payment by borrower.
Contract Law – Default judgment – Validity of loan agreement – Breach of contract by failure to repay – Damages and statutory default notice.
27 June 2025
Court grants injunctive relief to preserve hotel business status quo pending resolution of joint venture dispute.
Contract law – Injunctive relief – Breach of joint venture agreement – Validity of termination notice disputed.
27 June 2025
Joint Venture Agreement was terminated, invalidating claims of breach by a defendant and resulting in dismissal of suit.
Contract Law – Joint Venture Agreement – Termination of agreement – Effect of termination notice – Alleged breach post-termination
27 June 2025
Improper filing method rendered an arbitration extension of time application procedurally defective and incompetent.
Arbitration – extension of time – procedural impropriety in filing – requirement for chamber summons with affidavit.
23 June 2025
Court overturns arbitration due to procedural improprieties, notably lacking verbatim records and exclusive reliance on documents.
Arbitration – Serious procedural irregularities – Jurisdictional overreach – Failure to record proceedings – Documentary evidence reliance – Public policy.
20 June 2025
Preliminary objection on time-barred execution was dismissed due to non-compliance with court filing deadlines.
Civil Procedure - Execution of Court Decree - Compliance with Court Orders - Filing Deadlines - Time Limitation
20 June 2025
A court can amend a decree to correct clerical errors and align it with the judgment at any time before execution.
Civil procedure – amendment of decree – clerical errors – application for amendment not time-barred – power of court to correct decree to conform to judgment – rule 75 of the High Court (Commercial Division) Procedure Rules – section 96 Civil Procedure Code.
20 June 2025
Court orders non-resident plaintiff to deposit TZS 15,000,000 as security for costs in commercial suit.
Commercial law - Security for costs - Non-resident plaintiff - Reasonableness of security amount
20 June 2025
Court denied substitution of a defunct party's name in legal proceedings as the entity had been dissolved.
Legal capacity – Substitution of party name – Validity of proceedings after statutory changes – Effect of entity dissolution.
20 June 2025
Extension of time granted for one-day delay caused by computation error; applicant acted with sufficient diligence.
Appellate procedure – extension of time under section 11(1) AJA – requirement to account for delay – computation error as acceptable explanation – diligence in prosecuting appeal – thirty-day extension granted.
17 June 2025
Plaintiffs may withdraw a summary suit and refile as an ordinary suit with a limited filing-fee exemption.
Summary procedure — withdrawal of summary suit and liberty to refile as ordinary suit; Court Fees Rules 2018 Rule 6 — exemption of filing fee for intended plaint only; Order XXXV and Order XXIII CPC; withdrawal without costs; defendant's failure to obtain leave to defend.
17 June 2025
Sale of mortgaged vehicles before loan maturity and without statutory notice was void; damages unproven.
Loan/security – existence of loan and security over motor vehicles – admitted. Default and enforcement – premature exercise of lender’s right to sell collateral before loan maturity. Procedure – notice requirements for disposal of loan collateral; non-compliance with Microfinance (Non-Deposit Taking) Regulations G.N. No. 679 of 2019 (Rule 41(4)). Evidence – unpleaded matters (notices) cannot be relied on; burden to plead and prove damages.
16 June 2025
A judgment debtor's sworn proof of a residential dwelling prevents attachment absent documentary proof of a mortgage.
Civil Procedure – Execution – Attachment of residential property – Protection under section 48(1)(e) CPC – Requirement of proof to show mortgage waiving protection. Evidence – Sufficiency of affidavit and supporting documents; failure to annex loan facility agreement or surrendered Certificate of Occupancy fatal to decree holder's claim. Relief – Execution application struck out where protection not rebutted.
13 June 2025
Applicant failed to show sufficient cause for extension; alleged illegality did not relate to the impugned decision.
Civil procedure — Extension of time — Section 14(1) Law of Limitation Act — applicant must account for each day of delay (Lyamuya principle). Illegality as ground for extension — illegality must relate to the decision sought to be impugned. Evidential requirement — attach judgment/decree and state compliance with prior transfer orders. Failure to file ordered written submissions treated as non-appearance; matter proceeded on applicant's materials only.
13 June 2025
Default judgment entered for unpaid balance; interest reduced and change-of-ownership/recovery limited for lack of proof.
Civil procedure — Default judgment — Rule 22, High Court (Commercial Division) Procedure Rules — requirements: failure to file WSD, proof of service (including by publication), Form No.1 and supporting affidavit. Contract/Commercial law — Credit sale — proof of agreement, delivery, part-payment and default; remedies for unpaid balance. Remedies — Interest — claims must be pleaded, particularised and proved; court may award mercantile interest when appropriate. Security/recovery — Repossession of chattel and change of ownership — cannot permit double recovery absent proof of proceeds or vehicle value.
13 June 2025
Extension of time refused where alleged defective certificate of delay did not cause the appellant's lateness and days were unaccounted for.
Extension of time – application to file notice of appeal out of time – alleged erroneous certificate of delay – computation of time from notification of readiness of appeal documents – requirement to account for each day of delay and show diligence (Lyamuya principles) – Court of Appeal struck out appeal for memorandum filed out of time following counsel's concession, not due to defective certificate of delay.
13 June 2025
Applicant failed to prove wrongdoing; court refused to lift corporate veil to execute decree against directors.
Corporate veil — piercing for execution — requirement to prove no real separation and wrongful/fraudulent or obstructive conduct (eg concealing assets) — evidential burden on decree-holder — late counter-affidavit disregarded.
13 June 2025
Mareva injunction refused: 90‑day notice had lapsed and balance of convenience favoured the lender.
• Commercial law – interim/Mareva injunction – requisites: prima facie case, irreparable harm, balance of convenience • Mortgage enforcement – lender’s right to recover by sale of secured property vs borrower’s protection against eviction • Statutory 90‑day notice of intention to sue – effect as legal impediment to instituting suit • Discretionary refusal of injunctive relief where balance of convenience favours creditor
13 June 2025
Court enforces separable arbitration clause but, due to defendant’s procedural defaults, grants default judgment for unpaid lease invoices.
Commercial law – breach of lease/lease-supply agreement – default judgment – invoices and email correspondence as proof of contract; Arbitration law – separability of arbitration agreement (Arbitration Act s.12) – referral under s.14 requires application no later than filing first substantive defence; procedural bar where defendant fails to file WSD or seek referral; court’s inherent case-management discretion not to refer to arbitration where plaintiff already heard.
13 June 2025
Applicant's prompt withdrawal for defective record and swift remedial action constituted sufficient cause for extension to file a notice of appeal.
Extension of time – sufficient cause – technical defects in record of appeal – withdrawal of appeal and prompt remedial action – diligence as factor in granting extension – requirement to account for delay is fact-specific.
13 June 2025
Witness statements filed after the 14-day period from the Final PTC are struck out and the suit dismissed for want of prosecution.
Commercial Court Rules – Rule 49(2) – computation of the 14-day period for filing witness statements; day of Final Pre-Trial Conference is included – mandatory nature of filing – late witness statements struck out – failure to prosecute – dismissal for want of prosecution.
11 June 2025
The case concludes with a judgment by consent involving agreed damages and installment payments without further litigation.
Commercial law – Settlement – Consent Judgment – Payment of agreed damages without litigation.
11 June 2025
Default judgment refused where plaintiff failed to prove existence of the sale contract and produce supporting annexures.
Commercial procedure – Default judgment: absence of defence does not relieve plaintiff of proving claim on balance of probabilities; Rule 22 and Form No.1 requirements; Evidence Act ss.3(2)(b),110. Sale of Goods Act – ss.5(1) and 6(1): contracts may be oral but high-value corporate sales ought to be in writing for certainty and evidence. Failure to produce annexures (contract, delivery note, invoices) defeats claim.
10 June 2025
An advocate’s negligence and unproven illegality do not justify an extension of time to appeal; applicant must account for delay.
Appellate procedure — extension of time under Section 11(1) AJA — requirement to show sufficient cause and account for each day of delay — advocate’s negligence or incapacity not automatically good cause — alleged illegality must be apparent on the face of the record.
6 June 2025
Default judgment: defendant liable for unpaid credit-sale debt, damages, interest and costs; execution conditional on Rule 22 compliance.
Commercial law – Credit sale of goods – Existence of contract evidenced by delivery notes and invoices; Default judgment – failure to file written statement of defence or counter-affidavit; Evidence – affidavit as substitute for oral evidence when uncontroverted; Remedies – decretal sum, general damages, interest and costs; Execution – compliance with Rule 22(2)(a),(b) before execution.
6 June 2025
Applicants failed to establish the cumulative Atilio v Mbowe requirements for a temporary injunction; application dismissed.
Commercial procedure – interlocutory injunction – requirements under Atilio v Mbowe: triable issue, irreparable harm, balance of convenience – cumulative test. Evidence – affidavits must specifically establish irreparable loss; submissions from counsel are not evidence. Remedies – need to show damages inadequate (America Cyanamid principle). Mootness – completed transfer may overtake interim relief application.
6 June 2025
Lifting the corporate veil does not automatically permit arrest; committal requires proof of Order XXI rule 39(2) grounds.
Civil procedure – Execution by arrest and detention – Distinction between lifting corporate veil and committal under Order XXI rule 39(2). Corporate law – Lifting corporate veil – effect is to make individuals personally liable but does not automatically justify committal. Burden of proof – Decree-holder must plead and prove statutory grounds (fiduciary account, transfer/concealment, undue preference, refusal/neglect to pay when able, likelihood of absconding) occurring after veil lifting. Temporal relevance – Only post-veil-lifting conduct of individuals is relevant to committal proceedings.
6 June 2025
May 2025
Execution application struck out where land was third‑party and execution remedies had not been exhausted.
Execution — Attachment and sale — Whether property belonging to a third party can be attached — Third-party property not attachable. Civil Procedure — Withdrawal after hearing — Application heard on merits cannot be withdrawn. Execution — Debenture-charged assets — Availability and possession disputed; execution remedies not exhausted. Relief — Dismissal vs striking out — Striking out preserves ability to refile; dismissal would be final.
30 May 2025