JUDICIARY OF TANZANIA A HANDBOOK FOR MAGISTRATES IN THE PRIMARY COURTS REVISED AND UPDATED VERSION Published by Judiciary of Tanzania with the support of the world Bank January, 2019 A HANDBOOK FOR MAGISTRATES IN THE PRIMARY COURTS REVISED AND UPDATED VERSION PUBLISHED BY THE JUDICIARY OF TANZANIA WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE WORLD BANK JANUARY,2019 i TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF CASES VII FOREWORD XII ACKNOWLEDGMENT XV ABBREVIATIONS XVII CHAPTER ONE 1 PRIMARY COURTS MANUAL 1 1.Object of manual ............................................................................ 1 2. Maxims for magistrates .................................................................. 1 3. Basic rules for hearing cases ........................................................... 3 4. Functions of court clerks(Record Management Assistants) ................ 5 5. Establishment and constitution of Primary Courts ............................. 7 6. Assessors ...................................................................................... 8 7. Civil jurisdiction of primary courts ................................................. 10 8. Customary law ............................................................................. 11 9. Powers of primary courts in civil proceedings ................................ 12 10. Powers of primary courts in administration cases ......................... 13 11. Procedure in civil proceedings ..................................................... 16 12. Summonses and service-civil proceedings .................................... 19 ii 13. Procedure at hearing of civil proceedings ..................................... 23 14. Parties absent in civil proceedings ............................................... 25 15. Setting aside order for “exparte” proof (Rule 29 of the Primary Courts Civil Procedure Rules) ............................................................ 27 16. Setting aside an “ex-parte” decision (rule 30 of the Primary Courts Civil Procedure Rules) ...................................................................... 28 17. Execution .................................................................................. 29 18. Attachment ................................................................................ 32 19. Sale in execution ........................................................................ 34 20.Criminal jurisdiction of primary courts ........................................... 37 21. Powers of primary courts in criminal proceedings ......................... 38 22. Service of summons-criminal proceedings .................................... 46 23. Warrants of arrest ...................................................................... 47 24. Powers of arrest without warrant ................................................ 48 25. Remand ..................................................................................... 49 26. Bail ........................................................................................... 50 27. Search warrants ......................................................................... 51 28. Charges ..................................................................................... 53 29. Trial of offences ......................................................................... 53 iii 30. Parties absent in criminal proceedings ......................................... 53 31. Assessing punishment ................................................................ 54 32. Fine or imprisonment ................................................................. 56 33. Imprisonment in default of payment of fine ................................. 57 34. Offenders cannot choose their form of punishment ...................... 58 35. Scale of imprisonment in default of payment of fine ..................... 58 36. Confirmation of certain sentences and orders .............................. 59 37. Contempt of court ...................................................................... 61 38. Application of Criminal Procedure Act, Cap, 20 in Primary Courts .. 62 39. Juvenile court (Governed by the Law of the Child Act,2009) ......... 63 40. Transfer from primary court-section 47 of the Act (MCA) .............. 64 41. Transfer to primary court – section 48 of the Act (MCA) ............... 65 42. Additional provisions-section 49 of the Act (MCA) ......................... 66 43. The Appeal System .................................................................... 67 44. Criminal appeals ......................................................................... 68 45. Civil appeals............................................................................... 69 46. Advocates and public prosecutors ............................................... 71 47. Representatives ......................................................................... 71 48. Justices of the peace .................................................................. 72 iv 49. Limitation of proceedings ............................................................ 73 50. Evidence .................................................................................... 74 51. Oath of Witnesses and Interpreters ............................................. 74 52. Fees .......................................................................................... 74 53. Exhibits ..................................................................................... 75 54. Lock-ups (section 70 of the MCA) ................................................ 77 55. Forms, registers and returns ....................................................... 77 56. Custody of records ..................................................................... 77 APPENDIXES 78 Appendix 1: Proceedings in a Civil case ............................................. 78 Appendix 2: Proceedings in a Criminal case ....................................... 84 Appendix 3: Powers of arrest without a warrant in Tanzania ............... 90 Appendix 4: Forms, Registrers and Returns ....................................... 95 Appendix 5: Specimen charge sheets ................................................ 99 CHAPTER TWO 116 A GUIDE FOR JUSTICES OF THE PEACE 116 A GUIDE FOR JUSTICES OF THE PEACE ASSIGNED TO DISTRICT COURTS ......... 116 A GUIDE FOR JUSTICES OF THE PEACE ASSIGNED TO PRIMARY COURTS .......... 132 CHAPTER THREE 144 JUDICIAL ETHICS AND CONDUCT 144 3.1: Meaning and general overview .................................................. 144 v 3.2: The Purpose of Judicial Ethics and Conduct ............................... 146 3.3: Sources of Judicial Ethics and Conduct ...................................... 146 3.4: Breach of the Code of Conduct ................................................. 147 3.5: Fundamental matters contained in the Codes of conduct and ethics ..................................................................................................... 148 3.5.1: The Rules of the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of Tanzania, 1984 ............................................................................ 148 3.5.2: Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct, 2003...................... 148 3.5.3: Code of Ethics and Conduct for Public Service ...................... 150 3.5.4: The Leadership Code of Ethics Act, Cap 398 RE 2015 ........... 151 3.6: Disciplinary Procedures for Magistrates...................................... 159 3.6.1: The Judicial Service Commission(JSC) .................................. 159 3.6.2: The Judicial Officers Ethics Committee ................................. 161 3.6.3: The Regional Judicial Officers Ethics Committee ................... 162 3.6.4: The District Judicial Officers Ethics Committee ...................... 163 3.6.5: Dismissal and removal ........................................................ 165 3.6.6: Disciplinary Charges ........................................................... 165 3.6.7: Some instances of misconduct ............................................. 166 CHAPTER FOUR 168 SOME GUIDING PRINCIPLES IN ADJUDICATION OF CASES IN PRIMARY COURTS FROM THE DECISIONS OF THE HIGH COURT AND THE COURT OF APPEAL 168 vi LIST OF CASES A Abdallah Mkumba v. Mohammed Ililame [2001] TLR 326 Abdul Salum v. Republic [1967] HCD n.107 Amina Bakari v. Ramadhani Rajabu [1984] TLR 41 Andrea v. Republic [1971] HCD n.141 Antony v. Republic [1971] HCD n.146 Asha Shemzigwa v. Halima Shekigenda [1998] TLR 254 Athanas Makungwa v. Darini Hassani [1983] TLR 132 B Bahawari v. Bahawari [1971] HCD n.102 Bi Hawa Mohamed v. Ally Sefu [1983] TLR 32 Bombo v. Gadiye [1971] HCD n.84 Bushangila Ng’oga v. Manyanda Maige [2002] TLR 335 C Cecilia Mshamu v. Dick Kawoga [2001] TLR 318 Chairman of Kyangala Village v. Moses Mwamalala and 21 Others [2001] TLR 232 Clemence v. Esteria [1971] HCD n.32 D Dadi Saidi Kwanga v. Nurdin Akachapa [1999] TLR 398 Daudi Mwaspile v. Republic [1967] HCD n.59 Daniel Masalu v. Mussa Shadrack [1987] TLR 35 Daniel Mlingwa v. Mwaja Mkotyo [1997] TLR 39 Dinya v. Dawa [1971] HCD n.30 E vii Emmanuel Paul v. Wilfred Rwemigira [1969] HCD n.12 Embassy Mabeja v. Lugodeja Lugushwa [2001] TLR 293 Expedito Daudi Chunga v. Nsombo and Co. Ltd [2004] TLR 319 F Fanuel Msengi v. Peter Mtumba [1992] TLR 109 Francis Adolf v. Ibrahim Mustafa [1989] TLR 219 G Gregory Raphael v. Pastory Rwehabula [2005] TLR 99 H Halifa v. Hadija [1971] HCD n.1 Halima Athumani v. Maulidi Hamisi [1991] TLR 179 Hamea Mohamed v. Omari Abdullah [1967] HCD n.48 Hassani Msange Sarota v. Republic [1969] HCD n.40 Hemed Stamim v. Renata Mashayo [1994]