LUSHOTO: THE Chief Justice of Tanzania, Professor Ibrahim Juma, has called on judiciary stakeholders to exercise caution in their statements to avoid undermining the country’s justice delivery system.
Prof Juma made the appeal on Saturday at the Institute of Judicial Administration (IJA) in Lushoto after presiding over the swearing-in ceremony and orientation training for 88 new magistrates.
“My appeal to our stakeholders is that they should distinguish between criticism and abuse. The judiciary is ready to be criticised, but we are not ready to be abused simply to tarnish the image of our institution and discourage the judges and magistrates who are doing a wonderful job for the development of our nation,” he said.
The Chief Justice referred to a video clip circulating online in which a ‘citizen’ claimed that judgments published on the Court’s website, TanzLII, were meaningless and accused the Court of Appeal of having “Spoilers’ Judges” and “State Judges.”
However, Prof Juma highlighted those other citizens responded by expressing opposing views, noting that court decisions have assisted them in accessing justice and conducting studies.
The Chief Justice acknowledged that even the critical remarks offered the judiciary an opportunity to educate the public about its work.
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He emphasised the need to enhance communication with the public to promote a better understanding of the judiciary’s role and operations.
“The duty of a judge is to issue decisions or judgments that resolve disputes brought before the court. Whether someone likes or dislikes a decision depends on their perspective and interests,” he said.
Prof Juma added that the TanzLII system is recognized globally and is widely used. He urged Tanzanians to appreciate the advancements in the judiciary, noting that any further improvements should be based on scientific evidence and constructive feedback.
Addressing claims about “Spoilers’ Judges,” the Chief Justice clarified that such allegations are baseless. “I would also like to inform the ‘citizen’ who was complaining about the quality of the Court’s judgments that there have never been such spoilers.
The Judiciary of Tanzania is served by High Court Judges and Court of Appeal Justices. There are no State Judges,” he said. Prof Juma urged Tanzanians to take pride in the judiciary’s achievements and to engage constructively to address any concerns.
