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Tanzania

United Republic of Tanzania

Mixed (common law, customary law, Islamic law)Unitary presidential republic with autonomous ZanzibarReviewed· 2026-08-03
Capital
Dodoma
Population
67,400,000
Languages
Swahili, English
Currency
TZS

Tanzania · Courts

Court structure of Tanzania

Every tier of the judiciary, what it hears, and where an appeal goes next.

The hierarchy, top to bottom

Supreme — Court of Appeal of Tanzania
Final appeal for both the mainland and Zanzibar.
First instance — High Court of Tanzania
Divisions for commercial, land, labour and corruption matters.
Zanzibar — High Court of Zanzibar
Includes Kadhi's appellate jurisdiction for Islamic personal law.
Lower — Resident and district magistrates' courts, primary courts
Primary courts apply customary and Islamic law.
Regional — East African Court of Justice (Arusha)
EAC Treaty jurisdiction; the Court is seated in Tanzania.

Every court in the hierarchy

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