john mofat mwashitete vs falex hickson mwashitete 2020 tzhc 3596 29 september 2020

john mofat mwashitete vs falex hickson mwashitete 2020 tzhc 3596 29 september 2020

Failure to properly involve assessors in giving their opinions before judgment constitutes a fatal procedural irregularity, rendering the proceedings and judgment of the trial tribunal null.

Citation
john mofat mwashitete vs falex hickson mwashitete 2020 tzhc 3596 29 september 2020
Parties
Appellant: John Mofat Mwashitete; 1st Respondent: Falex Hickson Mwashitete (As administrator of the estate of the late Hickson Mwashitete); 2nd Respondent: Helen Stephano Mwashitete (As administrix of the estate of the late Stephano Mwashitete)
Court
TZHC
Jurisdiction
Tanzania
Judgment Date
29 September 2020
Procedural Posture
Land Appeal / Judgment
Outcome
appeal allowed
Legal Topics
Role of Assessors, Procedural Irregularity, Ownership Dispute, Retrial Order
Source Language
English
Land Law Civil Procedure Role of Assessors Procedural Irregularity Ownership Dispute Retrial Order

Case Brief

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Parties

John Mofat Mwashitete

Appellant

Falex Hickson Mwashitete (As administrator of the estate of the late Hickson Mwashitete)

1st Respondent

Helen Stephano Mwashitete (As administrix of the estate of the late Stephano Mwashitete)

2nd Respondent

Procedural Posture

Land Appeal / Judgment

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the trial tribunal erred by not inviting assessors to give their opinions before judgment
  2. 2 Whether the trial tribunal properly evaluated evidence regarding land ownership
  3. 3 Whether failure to visit locus in quo affected the determination of boundaries

Ratio Decidendi

Failure to properly involve assessors in giving their opinions before judgment constitutes a fatal procedural irregularity, rendering the proceedings and judgment of the trial tribunal null.

Court Disposition

appeal allowed

Orders

  • Proceedings and judgment of the trial tribunal are nullified
  • Case remitted for retrial before another chairman with a new set of assessors