Mkuu hii siyo Ubunge pekee au??? kama na uraisi inawezekana bora kwenda tu hata kama watachakachua hukumu
Naomba nikujibu kama nilivyoandika hapo juu. Nimesikitishwa sana kuona watu hawasomi bandiko langu licha ya umuhimu wake mkubwa.
Ndugu zangu hii ni sehemu ya kesi ya Attorney General & Others v. Dr. Amani Walid Kaborou (1996} TLR 156 ambapo Mahakama ya Rufaa chini ya Jaji Mkuu Nyalali, Robert Kisanga na Lameck Mfalila ilitoa uamuzi juu ya umuhimu wa kuendesha uchaguzi huru na haki. Na vilevile ilisema wazi kuwa hakuna kinga yoyote ile ya kikatiba dhidi ya maamuzi ya Tume ya Uchaguzi ambayo ni kinyume cha sheria. Nitajitahdi kuiweka hukumu nzima ili watu wajisomee. Naomba radhi kwa makosa yanayoonekana kwani katika kuitoa katika pdf mfumo umeshindwa kufanya kazi inavyotakiwa.
We now come to our reasons in support of our findings on ground number one in both memoranda of appeal concerning the validity of the Tamko Rasmi. We begin naturally by considering whether courts of law have jurisdiction to inquire into the validity of the Tamko Rasmi in view of the provisions of sub-article (12) of article 74 of the Constitution. That sub-article as amended by Act 4 of 1992 states:
'No Court shall have jurisdiction to inquire into anything done by the Electoral Commission in the exercise of its functions according to the provisions of this Constitution.'
On the face of it, it appears that the Constitution expressly prohibits the courts from inquiring into the validity of such things like the Tamko Rasmi, but on a deeper consideration of the principles that underlie the Constitution, it is obvious that such an interpretation of the Constitution is wrong. One of the fundamental principles of any democratic constitution, including ours, is the Rule of Law. The Principle is so obvious and elementary in a democracy, that it does not have to be expressly stated in a democratic constitution. However, perhaps for purposes of clarity, there is an express provision to that effect under the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania. It is Sub-Article (1) of Article 26 which states:
'Every person is obliged to comply with this Constitution and the laws of the United Republic.'
In the light of this principle, we respectfully agree with the sub- mission of Mr Werema Learned Senior State Attorney to the effect that Sub-Article (12) of Article 73 of the Constitution cannot be interpreted so as to protect unconstitutional or illegal acts or deeds, see the recent famous case of Anismic Ltd v. Foreign Compensation Commission (1).
Since Tanzania has reverted to dejure multi- party democracy, it is time the same was similarly articulated here. We are satisfied and we find that the High Court in this country, like the High Court in England, has a supervisory jurisdiction to inquire into the legality of anything done or made by public authorities such as the Tamko Rasmi. As a collorary, this Court has similar jurisdiction to do so in a matter properly before it, as in the present case.
We now come to our reasons in support of our finding to the effect that the Electoral Commission is empowered to make and issue the Tamko Rasmi but under the circumstances of this case, the Tamko Rasmi is invalid. It is patently clear that the Electoral Commission derives its powers under the Constitution and the Elections Act, 1985 as amended from time to time. Under para (b) of sub-article (6) of article 74 as amended by Act 4 of 1992, read together with ss (2) of s 4 of the Elections Act, 1985 as amended by Act 6 of 1992.
In our considered opinion, we are satisfied that on a true and proper interpretation of the above cited provisions of the Elections Act, the Electoral Commission is empowered to make regulations not only in furtherance of specific provisions of the Act, but also in furtherance of the purposes of the whole Act. From the scheme of the Act as manifested in the various provisions of the Act, including the provisions for secrecy of the ballot and for polling agents, counting agents, one person one vote, one candidate one seat, as well as those provisions concerning election campaigns and election offences, it is evident that the overriding purpose of the Elections Act is to secure the election of the President of the United Republic and the members of the parliament of the United Republic in a free and fair election. It is also implicit from the provisions of the Constitution.
Majaji wakaendelea kusema
As we have already stated, we concur with the reasons given by Mchome J, and we have additional reasons for upholding his finding. First, weare satisfied that the established rule of interpretation embodied in the Latin Maxim 'Expressio Unius EST Exclusio Alterius' that is, where matters are expressly stated, then any other matters of the same class not so expressly slated are excluded, does not apply to s.108 because that section provides defences to matters which are not expressly stated therein. Second, taking into account the principle which underlies the Constitution and the Elections Act, 1985 that elections shall be free and fair, we are of the considered opinion that an election which is generally unfree and unfair is not an election at all as envisaged by the Constitution and the Elections Act, and consequently anything which renders the elections unfree or, and unfair is in law valid ground for nullification of such purported D election. We are further of the considered opinion that any law which seeks to protect unfree and unfair elections from nullification would be unconstitutional.