“New” Courts in Tanzania: Small Trade claims to have own Courts (Claims CJ)

Veneranda Sumila

The pace of hearing small commercial claims in the country is set to increase following the government's intention to introduce small claims courts.

Chief Justice Mohamed Chande said last week in Dar es Salaam that the objective is to streamline the dispute resolution for the small and medium enterprises so as to enhance the investment environment, saying the courts would be more friendly in terms of costs, rules of practice and procedure.

Implementation of the concept would start with Dar es Salaam as a pilot scheme, whereby the small claims courts would be attached to district and resident magistrate courts.

"The district and resident magistrate courts in which the government is proposing to place small claims streams will be at the subordinate level in the judiciary hierarchy," reads in part a paper titled, Resolving Commercial Disputes Faster and more Affordably, written by Justice Robert Makaramba.

According to Justice Makaramba the rationale behind the government decision to establish small claims streams in lower courts will be a solution to the problem of lack of access to commercial justice for SMEs.

According to Makaramba small claims courts are easily handled because the average layperson can file a suit against the defendant in his local area, present his evidence all without the need of a lawyer.

Source: The Citizen (25/07/2012):
http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/business/13-local-business/24338-small-trade-claims-to-have-own-courts-cj