took effect, being a period of one year after its deposit.2 This Application, having been filed on 22 March 2019, is thus not affected by the withdrawal. II. SUBJECT OF THE APPLICATION A. Facts of the matter 3. It emerges from the record that the Applicants were arrested on 26 October 2010, having been accused of raping one Ester Mchilo, a resident of Lipangala Village in Ludewa District. They were taken to Lugarawa Police Station where they were charged with the offence of gang rape. 4. The Applicants were subsequently arraigned before the District Court of Ludewa. On 2 September 2013, after a full trial, the District Court convicted them of gang rape and sentenced them to life imprisonment and 12 strokes of the cane each. 5. On 14 February 2014, the Applicants appealed to the High Court of Tanzania, sitting at Iringa, seeking to quash both their conviction and sentence. On 18 September 2015, the High Court upheld the judgment of District Court and dismissed the Applicants’ appeal. 6. The Applicants then filed an appeal against the High Court’s judgment before the Court of Appeal of Tanzania sitting at Iringa. On 3 August 2016, the Court of Appeal dismissed the Applicants’ appeal. B. Alleged violations 7. The Applicants allege violation of the following: 2 Andrew Ambrose Cheusi v. United Republic of Tanzania (judgment) (26 June 2020) 4 AfCLR 219, § 38. 3