MWE Correspondent
Samia Suluhu Hassan has appointed nine judges to the Court of Appeal of Tanzania in a significant judicial reshuffle aimed at strengthening the country’s top appeals bench and improving the efficiency of the justice system.
The appointments, announced through the Directorate of Presidential Communications at State House and signed by Chief Secretary Ambassador Moses Kusiluka, bring together experienced High Court judges and principal judges drawn from key judicial divisions across mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.
The new judges include Justice Abdi Shaaban Kagomba from the High Court, Dodoma Zone; Justice Yohane Bokobora Masara from the High Court, Arusha Zone; and Justice Immaculata Kajetan Banzi, Principal Judge of the High Court in Kagera Region.
Others appointed are Justice Rabia Hussein Mohamed from the High Court of Zanzibar; Justice Cyprian Phocas Mkeha, Principal Judge of the Commercial Division of the High Court in Dar es Salaam; and Justice Yose Joseph Mlyambina, Principal Judge of the Labour Division of the High Court in Dar es Salaam.
The list further includes Justice Imani Daud Aboud from the High Court, Dodoma Zone; Justice Mzee Ibrahim Ibrahim from the High Court of Zanzibar; and Justice Juliana Laurent Masabo, Principal Judge of the High Court in Dodoma.
The reshuffle is widely viewed as part of ongoing efforts by the judiciary to enhance institutional capacity, reduce case backlogs, and strengthen public confidence in the administration of justice at the highest level.
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The Court of Appeal of Tanzania plays a critical role in interpreting the law, resolving complex legal disputes, and reviewing decisions from the High Court, making its composition central to the country’s legal and constitutional stability.
Legal observers say the appointment of judges from diverse regions and specialized divisions reflects an attempt to balance expertise across commercial, labour, and regional judicial systems, while also reinforcing representation from both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.
A swearing-in ceremony for the newly appointed judges is expected to be held on a date to be announced, after which they will officially assume duties on the appellate bench.
Judicial reforms in Tanzania have in recent years focused on improving efficiency, strengthening accountability, and modernizing court processes in response to a growing number of civil, commercial, and constitutional cases.
As the new judges prepare to take office, attention now turns to how their presence will influence the pace of justice delivery and the handling of high-profile appeals in the country’s highest court.
