the conviction, set aside the sentence and release the Applicant from prison.
The Respondent State also submits that the Application does not raise any
issue on the interpretation of the Charter, the Protocol or any relevant
human rights instruments ratified by Tanzania. Rather, it raises legal and
evidentiary issues that were dealt with by the domestic courts.
18. The Applicant opposes the objection by arguing that, although the Court is
not an appellate court, it is vested with jurisdiction over the Application as it
alleges violation of rights protected by the Charter. Citing Alex Thomas v.
Tanzania, the Applicant contends that the Court has jurisdiction to
determine whether the treatment of the alleged legal and evidentiary
anomalies by the domestic courts complies with the standards of the
Charter.
***
19. The Court recalls that by virtue of Article 3(1) of the Protocol, it has
jurisdiction to examine any application submitted to it provided that the rights
of which a violation is alleged are protected by the Charter or any other
human rights instrument ratified by the Respondent State.6
20. The Court notes that the Respondent State’s objection to its material
jurisdiction is premised on three (3) grounds namely: (i) the Court vesting
itself with appellate jurisdiction over matters determined by its domestic
courts; (ii) the Court’s powers to quash convictions and set aside the death
penalty legally meted out on the Applicant; and (iii) the Application raising
legal issues covered in its municipal laws rather than the Charter or ratified
international human rights instruments, that have already been determined
by its domestic courts. The Court will now address each of the grounds
raised by the Respondent State in support of its objection.
6
Kalebi Elisamehe v. United Republic of Tanzania, (judgment) (26 June 2020) 4 AfCLR 265, § 18.
7