Media Wire Express Correspondent
The Tanzania Judiciary is marking 63 years of independence with significant reforms and improvements aimed at enhancing the delivery of justice.
Over the years, notable changes have been implemented, particularly in infrastructure and the expansion of judicial services, reflecting a commitment to improving upon the conditions that existed in 1961.
Key areas of progress include an increase in the number of High Court Registries and a rise in the number of judges at both the High Court and Court of Appeal, which are designed to expedite the disposal of cases. Additionally, there has been a comprehensive review of various laws and rules, along with the integration of Information Communication Technology (ICT) to boost efficiency within the judicial system. These reforms underscore the Judiciary’s dedication to providing timely and effective justice for all Tanzanians.
During the colonial era, the High Court of Tanganyika was established in 1920 through an Order in Council, initially comprising just four High Court Registries located in Lushoto, Dar es Salaam, Moshi, and Arusha.
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Recently, Chief Justice of Tanzania, Prof. Ibrahim Hamis Juma, highlighted that efforts to extend judicial services beyond Dar es Salaam began under Chief Justice William Morris Carter, who served from 1920 to 1924.
Judge Carter implemented a system that allowed judges to travel to various towns and districts accessible by the Central Railway and Tanga Railway to conduct High Court sessions. This initiative laid the groundwork for expanding judicial access throughout the region.
The Central Railway, which connects Dar es Salaam to Kigoma on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, played a crucial role in the establishment of the High Court Registries in Tanzania. Following Government Notice No. 27 of 1920, the Tanga, Tabora, and Mwanza Registries were inaugurated and began operations on January 27, 1921, during the tenure of Chief Justice William Carter (1920-1925). The Tanga Registry served the districts of Pangani, Usambara, Moshi, and Arusha, while the Mwanza Registry catered to Mwanza and Bukoba districts.
As Tanzania celebrates 63 years of independence, the landscape of judicial services has transformed significantly, with the number of High Court Sub-Registries increasing to 20.
In addition to the Main Registry in Dar es Salaam, the current registries include those in Moshi and Tanga, along with Arusha, Iringa, Bukoba, Dodoma, Mwanza, Mbeya, Mtwara, Tabora, Kigoma, Musoma, Shinyanga, Songea, Manyara, Morogoro, Sumbawanga, and the Integrated Justice Centre for Family Matters in Temeke.
The Chief Justice elaborated on the jurisdictions of these registries: Dar es Salaam serves the Dar es Salaam and Coast Regions; Arusha covers the Arusha Region; Dodoma serves both Dodoma and Singida Regions; Bukoba is responsible for the Kagera Region; Moshi for the Kilimanjaro Region; Mbeya for Mbeya and Songwe Regions; Mtwara for Mtwara and Lindi Regions; Mwanza for Mwanza Region; Geita for Geita Region; and Sumbawanga for Rukwa and Katavi Regions.
Additionally, Songea serves the Ruvuma Region; Tabora covers the Tabora Region; Tanga serves the Tanga Region; Iringa caters to both Iringa and Njombe Regions; Shinyanga covers Shinyanga and Simiyu Regions; Kigoma serves the Kigoma Region; Musoma caters to the Mara Region; Morogoro covers the Morogoro Region; Temeke handles family matters in the Dar es Salaam Region; and Manyara serves the Manyara Region.
One of the significant achievements in Tanzania’s judicial system is the increase in the number of judges serving in both the High Court and the Court of Appeal. At the time of independence in 1961, there were no indigenous judges on the High Court bench.
The first appointments of Tanzanian judges came in 1963, when Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, the nation’s first president, appointed Augustine Said and Justice Mark Kimicha. Augustine Said would later become the first Chief Justice of Tanzania in 1971. According to Prof. Ibrahim Hamis Juma, the Judiciary of Tanganyika heavily relied on judges from abroad in the years following independence.
For nearly a decade after gaining independence, the judiciary continued to depend on English legal experts and judges from other countries to provide judicial services, as there were no local professionals available to take on these roles. This reliance on foreign judges highlighted the challenges faced in building a fully indigenous judicial system during the early years of independence.
Source Daily News
