Admissibility of electronic evidence in Tanzania

Kutokana na kukamatwa kwa Mkuu wa Kitengo cha Usalama wa Chadema, Wilfred Lwakatare na taarifa zilizopo kuwa atafikishwa mahakamani hivi karibuni, kumekuwa na mjadala kama ushahidi wa kielektroniki unaweza kukubaliwa mahakamani.

Mwaka 2000 na kabla ya kesi ya Trust Bank Ltd. v. Le-marsh Enterprises Ltd., Joseph Mbui Magari, Lawrence Macharia (No.4 of 2000 (Unreported), nilifanya utafiti at the request of a certain bank whether forensic and electronic evidence (wengine wanaita digital evidence) was relevant and thus admissible as evidence in Tanzanian courts.

My findings were that Tanzanian law (Evidence Act 1967) did not provide room for the admissibility of computer/electronic evidence. The Evidence Act 1967 only accepted the best evidence, i.e. the primary evidence in the form of written and signed or authenticated documents.

But things have changed since then. In the Trust Bank Ltd case, the issue before the court was whether computer/electronic evidence was admissible in the courts of Tanzania. Nsekela J stated that in the absence of electronic legislation, the court will always find way of dispensing justice even in difficult circumstances of absence of legal guidance.

Nimeona thread ya Pasco akijaribu kuelezea hili suala lakini thread yake imechakachuliwa na kuwa ya kisiasa zaidi. Tukiachilia mbali kabisa suala la "authenticity" ya video husika, makala iliyopo hapo chini inajaribu kuelezea kama kisheria electronic information zinakubaliwa kama ushahidi katika mahakama za Tanzania. Special thanks to Tanzania Legal News for the paper.

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The rapid increase of employing IT in daily life in Tanzania has brought many challenges. The Tanzanian courts for quite a long time have been relying on the Common Law doctrine of Best Evidence Rule to which the primary evidence in most cases is the written and signed or authenticated documents. However, the trend has changed recently. This paper therefore tries to give the highlight of Electronic Evidence in Tanzania.

It was not until 2000 when the wisdom of the High Court of Tanzania was called upon to rule whether electronic evidence is admissible as best evidence in the case of Trust Bank Ltd v. Le-Marsh Enterprises Ltd., Joseph Mbui Magari, Lawrence Macharia. In this case the court ruled that the electronic evidence is admissible in Tanzania courts and this was a departure from the strict rule of best evidence rule.

In admitting electronic evidence the judge stated that the court should not be ignorant of modern business methods and shut its eyes to the mysteries of the computer. This decision shows the judicial activism and the role of judiciary in filling the gaps left by the legislature.

The Legislature on the other hand responded by enacting Electronic Evidence Amendment Act 2007 which provided a provision for the reception of electronic evidence in courts of law in Tanzania. The new section has been added in the Tanzania Evidence Act 1967, the said section is section 40A.

This section provides, inter alia, that in any criminal proceedings, information retrieved from computer systems, networks or servers; or records obtained through surveillance of means of preservation of information including facsimile machines, electronic transmission and communication facilities; the audio or video recording of acts or behaviours or conversation of persons charged, shall be admissible in evidence.

Section 76 of the Tanzania Evidence Act was also amended to the effect that the bankers book include the records kept or information system including but not limited to computers and storage devices , magnetic tapes, microfilm, video or computer display screen or any other form of mechanical or electronic data retrieval mechanism.

Section 78 of Tanzania Evidence Act is also amended to include Section 78A a printed out records kept or information system including but not limited to computers and storage devices, magnetic tapes, microfilm, video or computer display screen or any other form of mechanical or electronic data retrieval mechanism or other process which in itself ensures the accuracy of such print out, shall be received as evidence.

Section 78A(2) provides that the records received under section 78A(1) shall be deemed to be a primary evidence and a "document" for the purpose of section 64(1) of the Tanzania Evidence Act. It is worthwhile to note that the wording of section 40A indicates that the provision is limited to criminal proceedings and not applicable in Civil suits proceedings.

In conclusion, it is suffice to say that Tanzania response to IT challenges is not only in admissibility of electronic evidence but also have gone as far as enacting other IT related legislation and the National ICT Policy of 2002 which indicates the vision of Tanzania government on ICT sector.

Source: ADMISSIBILITY OF ELECTRONIC EVIDENCE IN TANZANIA | Tanzania Legal News

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Kwa hiyo kama electronic information inakubalika mahakamani kama ushahidi, the next question is how can one proof the integrity of computer generated information and computer print-out? Can the best rule apply in electronic evidence? What is the procedure for admitting electronic information in court as relevant evidence? Kwenye hiyo article kuna mchangiaji ameacha some interesting comments:

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Thanks a lot for up dating. Let me contribute just few words in my observation of admissibility of electronic evidence. Tanzania is not an island that is unreachable by other people. Appreciation should go direct to Justice Nsekela for his wisdom and just decision on said commercial case.

Though the amendment of 2007, allows admissibility electronic evidence, as per section 40A as additional to Cap 6, the provision in my opinion is SILENT on the procedures on how it should be received and tendered before the court, since the reception clause is no longer entertained in Tanzania, where should we get the admissibility procedures of Electronic evidence?

I think there is a need to have an elaborated provision for such matters. I thought before that, the said amendment could provide us with essential guidance on how to understand electronic evidence and how to use this successfully in litigation and other means of dispute resolution. This title brings together all the issues relating to disclosure and procedures in admissibility of electronic evidence.

Finally, my suggestion, the added provision since it admits electronic evidence without providing procedures, my appeal is that Information Technology Act, should have put down the list of procedures and necessary condition for admissibility. Thanx.

Source: ADMISSIBILITY OF ELECTRONIC EVIDENCE IN TANZANIA | Tanzania Legal News

Inawezekana kesi hii ikawa sababu ya kutungwa kwa sheria mpya au kutolewa ufafanuzi wa jinsi ya kutambua electronic evidence...

Mkuu EMT, asante kwa hii, kama Tanzania tuliimport Evidence Act ya India "para materiale" India wameingiza rasmi E-evidence, sisi tunangoja nini ku enact zaidi ya kuingiza hivi vipande vipande?. Hebu Msome Dr. Hawa Senare hapa Admissibility Of Electronic Evidence - Information Technology and Telecoms - Tanzania.

Pasco said:

Mkuu EMT, asante kwa hii, kama Tanzania tuliimport Evidence Act ya India "para materiale" India wameingiza rasmi E-evidence, sisi tunangoja nini ku enact zaidi ya kuingiza hivi vipande vipande?. Hebu Msome Dr. Hawa Senare hapa Admissibility Of Electronic Evidence - Information Technology and Telecoms - Tanzania.

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Hiyo article ya Mama Sinare iliandikwa mwaka 2005 kabla ya amendment to the Evidence Act iliyofanyika mwaka 2007.

EMT, Salam sana Mkuu!!

Inapokuwa kwa mfano ni chemical substance unatakiwa kuzipeleka kama ushadi mahakamani au kwa namna yeyote ile kuna very clear and objective technics na methodology ya jinsi ya ku collect sample , kiasi gani, kwa namna gani, ni nani akazikusanye na kwa namna gani etc. Kuna International agreed standards jinsi ya kufanya sample ikubaliwe mahakamani ni ichukuliwe kuweza kuwakilisha suala zima mahakamani.

Please, Hebu nifafanulie at the same-capacity-kama unataka kuchukua-electronic-evidence mahakamani ...?

Azimio Jipya said:

EMT, Salam sana Mkuu!!

Inapokuwa kwa mfano ni chemical substance unatakiwa kuzipeleka kama ushadi mahakamani au kwa namna yeyote ile kuna very clear and objective technics na methodology ya jinsi ya ku collect sample , kiasi gani, kwa namna gani, ni nani akazikusanye na kwa namna gani etc. Kuna International agreed standards jinsi ya kufanya sample ikubaliwe mahakamani ni ichukuliwe kuweza kuwakilisha suala zima mahakamani.

Please, Hebu nifafanulie at the same-capacity-kama unataka kuchukua-electronic-evidence mahakamani ...?

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Sijui kama nimekuelewa. Jamaa amesema hapo juu kuwa the law is silent on the procedures on how electronic information should be received and tendered as evidence before the court.

EMT said:

Sijui kama nimekuelewa. Jamaa amesema hapo juu kuwa the law is silent on the procedures on how electronic information should be received and tendered as evidence before the court.

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... Umenielewa, nimekuelewa .. I-thought-of your personal-experience-on the matter! AND that being the case, then, As far as m concerned the issue is closed ... There is no a-standardized-way of doing it!!

As IGP thinking in his subjectivity? ... as Kova feeling in his feelings? .. How how ?

Though the amendment of 2007, allows admissibility electronic evidence, as per section 40A as additional to Cap 6, the provision in my opinion is SILENT on the procedures on how it should be received and tendered before the court, since the reception clause is no longer entertained in Tanzania, where should we get the admissibility procedures of Electronic evidence?

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Once the evidence act treats video or DVD as documentary evidence then the same procedures used to tender in a trial court documentary evidence will be admissible. One can not rely on lack of DVD evidence tendering procedures to get himself off the hook. One ought to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the said documents in the form of video or DVD were a product of evidence tampering through photo-shopping and one needs the services of experts in that field to do that.

Hii Act bado haijaweza kuaddress ishu ya ushahidi wa kielectronic! kwa Criminal Cases na uhalifu wa kibenki may be imeaddress, ila naona kama ni ngumu kwa mtu wa kawaida kushitaki mtu aliyekutapeli katika biashara ni ngumu. Kwanza kwa kuwa sheria imejitoa katika civil cases hivyo kesi za madai hivyo ndo kusema kuwa ushahid wa kielectronic hauta husika kwenye kesi za Madai.

Sijajua ni kwanini sheria imeainisha Bank pekee ndo zinaweza zikafaidi sheria hii. Ikumbukwe kuwa watanzania wengi wanafanya biashara ya mtandao, sometimes bila hata kujua mtu anayemuuzia mzigo, baadhi ya watu hawa tunaofanyanao biashara sio waaminifu. Watawasiliana na ww kabla hujatuma fedha, ila ukishatuma fedha au mzigo hutomsikia tena.

Sasa katika hili sheria itatusaidiaje?? Pia wapo watanzania ambao wanafanya biashara kwa kutumia mtandao, na baada ya kufanikisha kazi, baadhi wanakuwa wanakiuka makubaliano ambayo hayapo katika mkataba ila mmekubaliana via emails. Je katika issue ya hivi sheria inatusaidiaje??

EMT said:

Hiyo article ya Mama Sinare iliandikwa mwaka 2005 kabla ya amendment to the Evidence Act iliyofanyika mwaka 2007.

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Hii Act (amendment) bado haijaweza kuaddress ishu ya ushahidi wa kielectronic inavyotakiwa! kwa Criminal Cases na uhalifu wa kibenki may be imeaddress, ila naona kama ni ngumu kwa mtu wa kawaida kushitaki mtu aliyekutapeli katika biashara. Kwanza kwa kuwa sheria imejitoa katika civil cases hivyo ndo kusema kuwa ushahid wa kielectronic hautahusika kwenye kesi za Madai.

Pili, Sijajua ni kwanini sheria imeainisha Bank au ushahidi wa kielectronic utaopatikana undercover pekee ndio utaruhusiwa. Ikumbukwe kuwa watanzania wengi wanafanya biashara ya mtandao sasa hivi, sometimes bila hata kujua mtu anayemuuzia mzigo au unayemtumia pesa, baadhi ya watu hawa tunaofanyanao biashara sio waaminifu. Watawasiliana na ww kabla hujatuma fedha au kabla hujatuma mzigo, ila ukishatuma fedha tu hutomsikia tena.

Sasa katika mazingira hayo sheria itatusaidiaje?? Pia wapo watanzania ambao wanafanyabiashara kwa kutumia mtandao, na baada ya kufanikisha kazi, baadhi wanakuwa wanakiuka makubaliano ambayo hayapo katika mkataba ila mmekubaliana via emails, Je katika issue ya hivi sheria inatusaidiaje??

thank u very much mkuu, ilikuwa inanisumbua sana kutokana na kuwa na amendments nyingi, so inakuwa ngumu kujua kama kuna sheria mpya