Murimi and Others v United Republic of Tanzania (Applications No. 039/2019; Applications No. 040/2019; Applications No. 041/2019) [2022] AfCHPR 62 (28 July 2022)

| | | | | --- | --- | --- | | AFRICAN UNION |  | UNION AFRICAINE | |  | UNIÃO AFRICANA | | AFRICAN COURT ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS COUR AFRICAINE DES DROITS DE L’HOMME ET DES PEUPLES | | |

THE MATTER OF

CHACHA JEREMIAH MURIMI & OTHERS

V.

UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA

CONSOLIDATED APPLICATIONS NO. 039,040,041/2019

ORDER

(AMENDMENT OF PLEADINGS)

28 JULY 2022

The Court composed of: Blaise TCHIKAYA, Vice President; Ben KIOKO, Rafaâ BEN ACHOUR, Suzanne MENGUE, M-Thérèse MUKAMULISA, Tujilane R. CHIZUMILA, Chafika BENSAOULA, Stella I. ANUKAM, Dumisa B. NTSEBEZA, Modibo SACKO - Judges; and Robert ENO – Registrar,

In accordance with Article 22 of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (hereinafter referred to as “the Protocol”) and Rule 9(2) of the Rules of Court (hereinafter referred to as “the Rules”), Justice Imani. D. ABOUD, President of the Court and a national of Tanzania, did not hear the Application.

In the matter of:

Chacha Jeremiah MURIMI and others

*Represented by*

Mr David SIGANO, Acting Chief Executive Officer, East African Law Society

Versus

THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA

*Represented by*

Mr Gabriel P. MALATA, Solicitor General, Office of the Solicitor General

After deliberation,

*Delivers the following Order*,

THE PARTIES

Chacha Jeremiah Murimi, Methew Jeremiah Daud and Paschal Ligoye Mashiku (hereinafter referred to as “the Applicants”), are nationals of the United Republic of Tanzania (hereinafter referred to as “the Respondent State”) who at the time of filing the Application were incarcerated at Butimba Prison following their conviction and sentence to death for murder by the High Court of Tanzania sitting at Mwanza.

The Respondent State became a Party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (hereinafter referred to as “the Charter”) on 21 October 1986 and to the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Establishment an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights on 10 February 2006. It deposited the Declaration prescribed under Article 34(6) of the Protocol on 29 March 2010. On 21 November 2019, the Respondent State deposited, with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, an instrument withdrawing its Declaration. The Court has held that this withdrawal will have no bearing on pending cases and will only take effect one year after its filing, namely, 22 November 2020.[[1]](#footnote-1)

SUBJECT MATTER OF THE REQUEST

The Applications, filed on 22 July 2019, are based on the Respondent State’s alleged violations of the Applicants’ right to a fair trial.

The Applicants have, pursuant to Rule 47 of the Rules, requested to amend the Application.

SUMMARY OF THE PROCEDURE BEFORE THE COURT

The Applications were filed separately by the Applicants on 22 July 2019.

On 26 September 2019, the Court ordered the joinder of three Applications 039/2019, 040/2019 and 041/2019 as they arise from the same legal and factual basis, the alleged violations and prayers of the Applicants are similar, and the Applicants themselves indicated that they were co-accused in national proceedings.

The Applications were served on the Respondent State on 21 October 2019 and it was requested to file its Response within sixty (60) days of receipt.

On 12 October 2021, the Applicants were granted legal aid by the Court.

On 24 March 2022, the Applicant filed a request to amend the Application.

On 29 March 2022, the Registry transmitted the Applicant’s request for leave to amend pleadings to the Respondent State for observations.

The Respondent State has not filed any observations on the Applicant’s request for leave to amend pleadings.

ON THE REQUEST FOR LEAVE TO AMEND PLEADINGS

The request for leave to amend the pleadings is on the basis that, the Applicants seek to substantiate their pleadings by amending paragraphs 1 through 4, prayers of the Applicants and submitting supplementary affidavits through counsel as they were previously unrepresented.

The Respondent State did not file observations on the request.

\*\*\*

The Court observes that Rule 47 of the Rules provides as follows:

1. A party may, subject to the approval of the Court, amend its pleadings before the close of pleadings.

2. A request for amendment of pleadings shall be made by a written notice explaining the specific part of the pleadings to be amended. The request shall also state the reasons thereof.

3. If the request is made after the close of pleadings, the Court may grant leave on exceptional basis.

The Court notes that the Applicant’s request has been filed before the close of pleadings and it also specifies the part of the pleadings sought to be amended. Furthermore, given that the Applicants were self-represented when they filed their Applications, whereas they are now represented by advocates, the interest of justice requires that they are granted the opportunity to amend their pleadings. The Court therefore, finds that the Applicant’s request complies with Rules 47(1) and 47(2) of the Rules.

In the circumstances, the Court grants the Applicant’s request for leave to file the amended pleadings.

OPERATIVE PART

For these reasons:

THE COURT

*Unanimously,*

*Grants* the request by the Applicants for leave to amend the Application and orders that the amended Application be filed within thirty (30) days of notification of this Order.

Signed:

Blaise TCHIKAYA, Vice-President;

and Robert ENO, Registrar;

Done at Arusha, this Twenty-Eighth day of July in the year Two Thousand and Twenty-Two in English and French, the English text being authoritative.

1. *Andrew Ambrose Cheusi v. United Republic of Tanzania,* ACtHPR*,* Application No. 004/2015, Judgment of 26 June 2020 (merits and reparations) §§ 37-39. [↑](#footnote-ref-1)