Procedures
English-derived procedure with a five-tier court structure
The Civil Procedure Code governs mainland civil litigation. Primary courts apply customary law and simplified procedure, and the Court of Appeal of Tanzania is the final court, with the EACJ available for Treaty questions.
Key rules
- Jurisdiction — Primary courts, district courts, resident magistrates' courts, the High Court and the Court of Appeal; the EACJ for Treaty interpretation.
- Deadline — Appeal to the Court of Appeal: 60 days from the decision
- Deadline — Limitation: six years for contract, three years for tort
- Deadline — Written statement of defence: 21 days from service
Governing law
- Civil Procedure CodeCap 33
- Law of Limitation ActCap 89
- Arbitration Act, 2020No. 2 of 2020
In practice
The primary courts are the distinctive layer: they sit at ward level, apply customary and Islamic law in appropriate cases, and permit lay representation, so most Tanzanians' actual encounter with civil justice is with a court that the Civil Procedure Code barely governs.