The East African Court of Justice (EACJ) has shed new light on the debate over the legitimacy of the Tanzanian union, after dismissing a case questioning the legality of the union saying it has no jurisdiction to decide the case.
The court reached the decision on September 29, 2020 ruling after agreeing to three preliminary objections jointly filed by the respondents in the case; the Attorney General of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, the Chief Secretary of the Revolutionary Council of Zanzibar and the Attorney General of the United Republic of Tanzania.
The case number 09 of 2016- filed by about 40,000 Zanzibaris, represented by their colleague Rashid Salim Adiy-questioned the legitimacy of the 1964 Tanganyika-Zanzibar union, which gave birth to Tanzania.
Among other things, the applicants opposed to the union claiming that documentation on it does not exist, or if documents exist, they are invalid, as they were never approved by the Zanzibar House of Representatives.
However, the respondents filed a preliminary objection to the case, asking the court to dismiss it, while presenting three objections.
In their argumentation, the respondents claim that: one: the court has no jurisdiction to hear the case. Two: the case was opened outside the period specified in the court's establishment agreement.
source: Citizen Tanzania
Source : https://taarifa.rw/eac-court-says-it-has-no-powers-to-hear-tanganyika-zanzibar-union-case/
