TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION AND COPYRIGHT.................................................................................iv

DEDICATION......................................................................................................................v
LIST OF ABREVIATIONS...................................................................................................vi
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT..................................................................................................vii
ABSTRACT......................................................................................................................viii
CHAPTER ONE..................................................................................................................1
RESEARCH DESCRIPTION...............................................................................................1
1.0 Introduction.................................................................................................................
1.1 Background of the Problem........................................................................................
1.2 Statement of the Problem............................................................................................
1.3 Literature Review.......................................................................................................
1.4 Objectives of the Study...............................................................................................
1.5 Significance of the Study............................................................................................
1.6 Hypothesis...................................................................................................................
1.7 Research Methodology................................................................................................
1.7.1 Area of Study............................................................................................................
1.7.2 Data Collection Methods..........................................................................................
1.7.3 Data Analysis...........................................................................................................
CHAPTER TWO...............................................................................................................10
EXTENT OF DELAY OF THE CASES IN THE COURTS OF LAW.............................10
2.0 Introduction ..............................................................................................................
2.1 Extent of Delays........................................................................................................
2.1.1 The Extent of Delays during Arrest and Institution of the Cases...........................
2.1.2 Extent of the Delays during Trials up to Conviction..............................................
2.1.3 Extent of Delays during Appeal.............................................................................
2.3 Conclusion ................................................................................................................

CHAPTER THREE...........................................................................................................13
FACTORS CAUSING DELAYS OF CRIMINAL CASES..............................................13
3.0 Introduction...............................................................................................................
3.1 Why the Delay of Criminal Cases.............................................................................
3.1.1 Insufficient Number of Magistrates and Prosecutors.............................................
3.1.2 Poor working atmosphere and lack of motivations................................................
3.1.3 Lack of Commitment by the Present Work force...................................................
3.1.4 Lack of Speedy Investigation.................................................................................
3.1.5 Remoteness and Costs to Attend the Court Sessions.............................................
3.1.6 Unnecessary Adjournment.....................................................................................
3.1.7 Ignorance of law.....................................................................................................
3.2 Conclusion.................................................................................................................
CHAPTER FOUR............................................................................................................20
THE CONSEQUENCES/ EFFECTS OF DELAY OF CRIMINAL CASES.....................20
4.0 Introduction...............................................................................................................
4.1 Effects or Consequences of Delay of Criminal Cases...............................................
4.1.1 Denial of Justice.....................................................................................................
4.1.2 Overcrowding of the Prisons..................................................................................
4.1.3 Economic Repercussions.......................................................................................
4.1.4 Delay Causes Backlog of Cases.............................................................................
4.1.5 Delay Promotes Extra- Judicial Means of Dispute Settlement..............................
4.1.6 Psychological Torture.............................................................................................
4.1.7 The effect of delay to the Accused in Relation to his/her Society.........................
4.1.7 The Effects of Delay on the Evidence....................................................................
4.2 Conclusion.................................................................................................................

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CHAPTER FIVE...............................................................................................................25
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS................................................................25
5.0 Conclusion.................................................................................................................
5.2 Recommendations.....................................................................................................
5.3 The Outcome....................................................................................................27
BIBLIOGRAPHY..............................................................................................................35

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DECLARATION
AND
COPYRIGHT
I, Adestuta Rugaibula, do hereby declare that this Research Report is my original work
and that it has not been submitted by any other person or submitted in any Higher
Learning Institution for any academic award.
Should there be any mistakes or errors in this Work so far, no one should be held
responsible for, except I; who ultimately assumes the responsibility.

Date

All rights reserved. No part of this Research Report shall or may be produced or
reproduced in any retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means without prior
and written permission of the Researcher; or Mzumbe University on that behalf.
2010

iv

DEDICATION
I dedicate this work to my family; my father Adeodatus Rugaibula, and Mother Iren
Rugaibula as well as my relatives for their concern and support to my academic career. I
thank them all from the bottom of my heart for all their prayers and assistance in
providing me with a positive advice.

LIST OF ABREVIATIONS
Cap

Chapter

Hon.

Honourable

No.

Number

PP

Public Prosecutor

Republic

R.E

Revision Edition

TLR

Tanzania Law Report

Versus

vi

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Preparation and writing of this research paper is beyond the capacity of one person.
Although the main work of this report was done by the researcher herself, still different
people in various departments were involved.
I express my special gratitude to my Mzumbe University Supervisor, Dr. J. M. Kagirwa,
for his supervision through various stages of this work. I am the beneficiary of his
intelligence, sense of organization and diligence. I also extend similar gratitude to my
external supervisor, Hon. P. Matete for his guidance and cooperation throughout my field
work at Bukoba District Court.
I also value and acknowledge all the staff members at Bukoba District Court for their
hospitality and kindness.
Further, I would like to extend special thanks to my brothers Divo Rugaibula, Deogratius
Rugaibula as well as my sister Divon Rugaibula for their moral, spiritual and financial
support that enabled me to study well at Mzumbe University. I thank them very much.
Finally, I thank my close friends; Bernard P, Temy L, and Regina H, and all the others
who encouraged me to go on with this research.
Nonetheless, I am solely responsible for my mistakes or short falls in this work.

vii

ABSTRACT
Before the intrusion of colonialism in Tanganyika currently known as Tanzania, we had
our own ways of setting disputes when matters arose. In 1961 Tanganyika, now Tanzania
got her independence from Great Britain and adopted the whole judicial system of her
colonial master. There was no way in which the new independent government could do
away abruptly with the problems which existed in the system, delay of trials inclusively.
This situation has been troubling the system for the period of more than six (6) now. It is
not that the government is silent on the situation; much has been done to remedy the
atmosphere, much was put into place but they have not yield the appealing outcome.
Therefore this study sets out to investigate the underlying problem by looking on factors
leading to the problem of delay in trial, its effects, and possible ways to get rid of it.
The researcher aims to deal with the following areas as far as the study is concern;

Circumstances under which the problem of delay in trial arises, or

Different factors or reasons of leading to the problem of delay of cases

The extent at which justice system is abused by the problem

Focusing on effect facing of the problem to the respective victims

Lastly conclusion and some recommendation on how either to reduce or

do away with the problem.

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