By Zephania Ubwani
Posted Thursday, September 19 2013 at 02:00
Posted Thursday, September 19 2013 at 02:00
In Summary
Mr Chacha was arrested and charged with armed
robbery and murder and his property was legally searched and seized,
according to the government side, pending the conclusion of the cases
against him.
Arusha. A prisoner has taken the government to
the African Court of Human and Peoples’ Rights for allegedly arresting,
detaining and jailing him contrary to the Constitution.
The Arusha-based Pan African court will hold a
public hearing on September 25 and 26, this year in the case of Peter
Joseph Chacha versus the United Republic of Tanzania.
According to Chacha, who has been in prison in
Arusha since 2007, his personal rights were violated along with his
right to own and protect his property--which he accuses the police of
seizing. He has followed up the issue with Government agencies and even
filed a case that has yet to be heard, he says.
But the government contends, in turn, that the
application has nothing to do with the human rights instrument Tanzania
ratified--and that it is based on the Constitution and the Criminal
Procedure Act.
Mr Chacha was arrested and charged with armed
robbery and murder and his property was legally searched and seized,
according to the government side, pending the conclusion of the cases
against him.
In his application, Mr Chacha asks for his release
and requests that his property be restored. He also wants “adequate”
compensation for damage and loss, and seeks collateral reparation. The
government wants the application struck out.
Chacha filed his suit against the Attorney General and the minister for Home Affairs on September 30, 2012.
He is represented by the Pan African Lawyers’
Union while the government is represented by counsels from the Attorney
General’s Chambers and the ministry of Foreign Affairs and International
Cooperation.
SOURCE: THE CITIZEN
SOURCE: THE CITIZEN
