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Front Page Commercial court ushers in new era in settling suitsby Matilda Kirenga and Staff Writer
The business community and residents of Arusha, Kilimanjaro and Manyara regions will be relieved of long and cumbersome judicial processes after the launch of a commercial court in Arusha. Judge Rutakangwa of the High Court of Tanzania, Arusha zone said during the opening ceremony of the court on August 24 that previously all cases, even those of commercial nature, had to be filed at the High Court Registry thus clogging the system with a huge number of cases. Until August this year there were 628 pending civil cases at the High of Tanzania Court in Arusha but many of those are commercial and could be expediently settled by the commercial court. The guest of honour, Mr. H. Bakari Mwapachu, Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs said the establishment of a commercial court under the auspices of the High Court of Tanzania is in tandem with the economic changes taking place in the country. Such court, he said, was deemed necessary when the economy was liberalized putting emphasis on the private sector. The first operations of the commercial were launched in Dar es Salaam in 1999. Other branches are scheduled to be opened in Mwanza, Mbeya and Tanga in the coming four years. Mr. Mwapachu said having a commercial court in place was a vital step in creating a vibrant and sustainable environment for investments in the country. "It is my belief that the establishment of the commercial court in Tanzania answers to the current needs of a conducive atmosphere for business and not just a means of dealing with the pile-up of cases at the High Court Registry", he said. Since the launch of the Commercial Court in Dar es Salaam five years ago, he said, much progress has been registered and investors have no more fears of their suits taking ages in court. Mr. Steven S. J. Bwana, Senior Judge of the Commercial Court noted that since the court was established in Dar es Salaam in September 1999 until July this year, a total of 1,039 cases had been filed out of which 901 had already been concluded by July 31 this year. The Judge paid tribute to the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) for their assistance in constructing the court facility and equipping it. The Danish Ambassador to Tanzania, Mr. Carstein Perdersen was among the guests who attended the opening ceremony.
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