CORRUPTION and Economic Crimes Procedure Rules are now operational, with 14 High Court judges who will preside over the bribe cases completing training.
The Chief Justice (CJ) Mohamed Chande
Othman said in Dar es Salaam yesterday that with the release of the
procedure rules, the anti-graft court had already started its
operations.
The judges, who were selected by the
judiciary to preside over corruption cases in the newly established
special anti-corruption court were trained at the Lushoto based
Institute of Judicial Administration in Tanga Region.
Addressing a news conference in Dar es
Salaam yesterday, Judge Othman said in the new rules that came to effect
on September 9, 2016, under Government Notice 267, if a corruption case
is filed at the anti-corruption division, it should be assigned to a
judge.
“Preliminary Hearing is supposed to be
done within 30 days after filing of the case and the case should be
heard and determined within nine months,’’ he said adding:”If in any
case the ruling is yet to be delivered within that time limit, an
extension of another six months can be given,’’ said the CJ.
The rules further provide for the
procedure for filing of any corruption case. According to the CJ, there
will be at least one judge in all the 13 zones although the headquarters
of that court shall remain in Dar es Salaam.
“We expect to have proper management of
these cases and we will be able to trace whoever will delay the hearing
of the cases and take appropriate actions accordingly,’’ he added.
Meanwhile, two grand multibillion plans in the judiciary are set to be
launched tomorrow in a quest to increase efficiency and service
delivery.
The Prime Minister, Kassim Majaliwa is
expected to officiate the official launch of the 238bn/- five-year
strategic plan 2016/2017-2019/2020. Mr Majaliwa will also launch another
project seeking to improve judicial services and expedite court
business processes.
The 65 million US dollar (about 140bn/-)
project is implemented between the government of Tanzania, the
judiciary and the Word Bank. “Among other issues, the project will focus
on sustainable training to 6,400 staff of the judiciary, improving the
Institute of Judicial administration in Lushoto, Tanga,” the CJ said.
The two projects will be launched at one
of the new court buildings in Kibaha District, Cost Region. According
to the CJ, with the two projects in place, the judiciary will ably
deliver justice to all people at the right time.
“Currently, 47 percent of the
population, equal to 21 million Tanzanians have no equal opportunities
in access to justice,’’ he said expressing optimism that the
implementation of the projects would help in the provision of judicial
services
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