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Jeshi v United Republic of Tanzania (Application No. 017/2016) [2019] AfCHPR 84 (19 August 2019)
- Citation
- [2019] AfCHPR 84
- Status
- Judgment
- Jurisdiction
- Uganda
- Court
- African Court on Human and Peoples Rights
- Panel
- Anukam J, Ben Achour J, Bensaoula J, Chizumila J, Eno R, Kioko VP, Matusse J, Mengue J, Mukamulisa J, Orè P, Tchikaya J
- Case number
- Application No. 017/2016
- Language
- English
More details
- Court
- African Court on Human and Peoples Rights
- Panel
- Anukam J, Ben Achour J, Bensaoula J, Chizumila J, Eno R, Kioko VP, Matusse J, Mengue J, Mukamulisa J, Orè P, Tchikaya J
- Case number
- Application No. 017/2016
- Language
- English
On this page
Professional case brief
Research organized from the available case record
01
Holding and result
The Court determined that, in the interests of justice and procedural fairness, the proceedings in Application No. 017/2016 should be reopened to allow the Applicant an opportunity to reply to the Respondent State's response on reparations. The Court found that the Respondent State's response was properly filed and should be considered in the adjudication of reparations. This order ensures both parties have a fair opportunity to present their arguments on reparations, consistent with the principles of fair trial and equality before the law as enshrined in the African Charter and the Tanzanian Constitution. The Court's decision is grounded in its mandate to safeguard procedural rights and to ensure that justice is not compromised by technicalities or delays in submissions.
Court disposition
Order for reopening of pleadings; directions for further submissions.
Orders
- Proceedings in Application No. 017/2016 are hereby reopened.
- The Respondent State's response to the Applicant's submissions on reparations is deemed properly filed.
- The Applicant is ordered to submit his reply to the Respondent State's response, if any, within thirty (30) days of receipt thereof.
02
Material facts
Parties
Deogratius Nicolaus Jeshi
Applicant Counsel: Self-representedUnited Republic of Tanzania
Respondent Counsel: Dr Clement J. Mashamba, Ms. Sarah Mwaipopo, Mr. Zachariah Elisaria, Mr. Nkasori Sarakikya, Mr. Benedict T. Msuya, Mr. Michael Luena, Mr. Veritas Mlay03
Procedural history
Posture
Human Rights Application / Order for Reopening of Pleadings
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
Whether the Respondent State violated the Applicant's right to a fair trial under the African Charter and Tanzanian Constitution.
- 02
Whether the Applicant's rights to equality before the law and equal protection by the law were infringed.
- 03
Whether the Applicant was denied the right to defence, including counsel of choice.
- 04
Whether the Respondent State's response to reparations was properly filed and should be considered.
Party arguments
- Applicant
- The Applicant alleges violations of his rights to a fair trial, equality before the law, equal protection by the law, and the right to defence, including representation by counsel of his choice, as guaranteed under the African Charter and the Tanzanian Constitution. He contends that his conviction and sentence to death were marred by procedural irregularities and lack of adequate legal representation.
- Respondent
- The Respondent State contests the allegations, asserting that the Applicant's trial and conviction were conducted in accordance with Tanzanian law and the African Charter. The Respondent maintains that the Applicant's rights were respected throughout the proceedings and that its response to the Applicant's submissions on reparations was timely and properly filed.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
Articles 2, 3(1), 3(2), and 7(1)(c) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights; Articles 13(6)(a) and 107(a)(2)(b) of the Constitution of Tanzania.
Right to fair trial, equality before the law, and right to defence as protected under the African Charter and Tanzanian Constitution.
- 02
Article 22 of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights; Rule 8(2) of the Rules of Court.
Court's authority to regulate pleadings and ensure justice by reopening proceedings where necessary.
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
The Court determined that, in the interests of justice and procedural fairness, the proceedings in Application No. 017/2016 should be reopened to allow the Applicant an opportunity to reply to the Respondent State's response on reparations. The Court found that the Respondent State's response was properly filed and should be considered in the adjudication of reparations. This order ensures both parties have a fair opportunity to present their arguments on reparations, consistent with the principles of fair trial and equality before the law as enshrined in the African Charter and the Tanzanian Constitution. The Court's decision is grounded in its mandate to safeguard procedural rights and to ensure that justice is not compromised by technicalities or delays in submissions.
Obiter and limits
- The Court emphasizes the importance of procedural fairness and the right of both parties to be heard fully on all aspects of the case, including reparations.
- The reopening of pleadings is a measure to ensure that justice is served and that no party is prejudiced by procedural lapses.
Court disposition
Order for reopening of pleadings; directions for further submissions.
- Proceedings in Application No. 017/2016 are hereby reopened.
- The Respondent State's response to the Applicant's submissions on reparations is deemed properly filed.
- The Applicant is ordered to submit his reply to the Respondent State's response, if any, within thirty (30) days of receipt thereof.
Source and reliance status
African Court on Human and Peoples Rights
This page organises the available record for research. Confirm quotations, current status, and subsequent treatment against the official source before relying on the case.
Judgment reading view
Judgment text
The complete available source text.
African Court on Human and Peoples Rights
Judgment
| | | 01712016 | $1910812019$ 000234<br>(000 234 - 000 230) BS | |--|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------|-----------------------------------------------| | | <b>AFRICAN UNION</b> | | UNION AFRICAINE | | | الاتحاد الأفريقي | | UNIÃO AFRICANA | | | AFRICAN COURT ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES' RIGHTS<br>COUR AFRICAINE DES DROITS DE L'HOMME ET DES PEUPLES<br>P. O Box 6274 Arusha, Tanzania- Telephone: +255 732 979506/9; Fax. +255 732 979503 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
THE MATTER OF
DEOGRATIUS NICOLAUS JESHI
$V$ .
UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA
APPLICATION No. 017/2016
ORDER FOR RE-OPENING OF PLEADINGS
19 AUGUST 2019

00093 3
The Court composed of: Sylvain ORE, President; Ben KIOKO, Vice-President; Rafad BEN ACHOUR, Angelo V. MATUSSE, Suzanne MENGUE, M-Therese MUKAMULISA Tujilane R. CHIZUMILA, Chafika BENSAOULA, Blaise TCHIKAYA, Stella l. ANUKAM, Judges; and Robert ENO, Registrar.
Pursuant to Article 22 of lhe Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights (hereinafter referred to as "the Protocol") and Rule 8(2) of the Rules of Court (hereinafter referred to as "the Rules"), Judge lmani D. ABOUD, member of the Court and a national of Tanzania, did not hear the Application.
ln the Mafter of:
Deogratius Nicolaus JESHI
Self -represented
Versus
UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA
represented by
- Dr Clement J. MASHAMBA Solicitor General, Office of the Solicitor General; - I Ms. Sarah MWAIPOPO, Director, Constitutional Affairs and Human Rights, Attorney General's Chambers; - il Mr. Zachariah ELISARIA, Senior State Attorney, Attorney General's Chambers; - IV [Vs. Nkasori SARAKIKYA, Principal State Attorney, Attorney General's Chambers; - lvtr. Benedict T. MSUYA, Second Secretary, Legal Officer, trlinistry of Foreign Affairs and lnternational Cooperation;
VI vil tVr. tvlichael LUENA, Principal State Attorney. Attorney General's Chambers; Mr. Veritas MLAY StateAttorney, Attorney General's Chambers.
0otl€3't
after deliberation,
rssues the following Order.
THE PARTIES
- 1. Mr. Deogratius Nicholaus Jeshi, (hereinafter referred to as "the Applicant") is <sup>a</sup> national of Tanzania, who was arrested and convicted for the crime of murder and sentenced to death by the High Court Tanzania at Karagwe on the 22 June 2010. He filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal of Tanzania at Bukoba (Criminal Appeal No. 211 of 2010), and on 7 March 2012,the Court of Appeal upheld the decision of the High Court. The Applicant is currently on death row at Butimba Central Prison, [t/wanza. - 2. fhe Respondent State is the United Republic of Tanzania, which became a Party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (hereinafter referred to as the "Chartel') on 21 October 1986, and to the Protocol on 10 February 2006. Furthermore, the Respondent State, on 29 March 2010, deposited the Declaration prescribed under Article 34(6) of the Protocol, by which it accepts the jurisdiction of the Court to receive applications from individuals and NGOs.
SUBJECT MATTER OF THE APPLICATION
3. The Application, filed on 22 March 2016, is based on the Respondent State's alleged violations of the Applicants rights to fair trial, equality before the law and equal protection by the law, the right to defence, including the right to be defended by counsel of his choice, as provided for under Articles 2, 3(1) and (2) and 7(1) (c)

of the Charter, as well as Articles 13(6)(a) and 107(a)(2)(b) of the Respondent State's Constitution of 1977.
III. SUMMARY OF THE PROCEDURE BEFORE THE COURT
- 4. The Court issued an Orderfor Provisional Measures on 3June 2016, directing the Respondent State to refrain from executing the death penalty against the Applicant pending the determination of the Application. - 5. The Parties filed their submissions on the merits within the time stipulated by the Court, which were duly exchanged between them. - 6. The Applicant filed his submission on reparations on 6 August 2018, which was transmitted to the Respondent State on 30 August 2018. - 7. After extensions of time granted to the Respondent State on 4 October 2018; <sup>18</sup> February 2019 and 15 March 2019, on 13 June 2019, pleadings were closed and the Parties were duly notified. - 8. On 5 August 2019, the Respondent State filed its Response to the Applicant's submission on reparations.
]V THE COURT:
t
- Orders that the proceedings in Application No. 017/2016 Deogratius Nicolaus Jeshi v. United Republic of Tanzania be and are hereby reopened; - Rules that, in the interests of justice, the Respondent State's Response to the Applicant's submissions on reparations be deemed to have been properly filed; and

$\overline{4}$
iii. Orders the Applicant to submit his Reply to the Respondent State's Response, if any, within thirty (30) days of receipt thereof.
Signed:
Sylvain ORÉ, President; and Robert ENO, Registrar.
HUMAN AND ORDITS OF
Done at Arusha, this Nineteenth Day of August in the Year 2019, in English and French, the English text being authoritative.
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