IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF TANZANIA AT IRINGA

THE THREE panel of Justice of Appeal have starting hearing both criminal and civil cases in the Court of Appeal of Tanzania at Iringa, it has been established.


The three of judges including Edward Rutakangwa (chairman of the panelists), Natalia Kimaro and William Mandia have started hearing criminal and civil cases in the court of appeal of Tanzania at Iringa on Monday.


According to the Deputy Registrar of Court of Appeal John Mgetta, the cause list of sessions will involve a total of 30 cases, that is 24 criminal and six civil cases from 16th August until 6th September, 2010 for judgments, rulings and orders respectively.


However, in the court of appeal of Tanzania at Iringa three justice of appeal in the first session have heard two criminal appeals including Case No. 61/2008 involving The Director Public Prosecution (DPP) versus Philbert Mtweve involving corruption since 2002 in Songea.


The Case No.61/2008 was withdrawn because both the two had never appeared in court since then.


The second case with No.63/2008, Yassin Thomas Nyumayo versus The Republic of Tanzania and it is a murder case but it was applied for the appeal since 2004.


In that case Nyumayo was accused murdering Mwanaidi Abdullah of Mshangano Village in Songea, Ruvuma Region, and sentenced to death by hanging before the Judge Lameck Uzea.


However, the case was adjourned until 29th August, 2010 because his private Lawyer, Basil Mkwata asked the court to push forward to the next date because he did not go through the case.


The Court of Appeal of Tanzania at Iringa is done once a year.


Meanwhile, the Deputy Registrar of the Court of Appeal, John Mgetta told reporters yesterday the country is facing a crisis of justice of appeal hence making the criminal and civil appeals to take longer to be heard.


He noted that there are only 16 justice of appeal in Tanzania but 10 zones of court of appeals of Tanzania and in each zone three judges were to hear the appeal cases.