The Judiciary has called on lawyers, prosecutors, government legal officers and other justice stakeholders to prepare contingency measures for the forecast El Niño rains, warning that disruption of roads and public services could affect the handling of cases.
Chief Justice George Masaju said institutions dealing with tax, commercial, banking, land, investment and competition disputes must consider how their operations will continue if heavy rains make some roads inaccessible or disrupt normal working arrangements.
He made the call on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, while closing the fourth stakeholders’ meeting on the implementation of the strategy for handling economic cases at the Judiciary headquarters in Dodoma.
The warning follows a forecast by the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) of El Niño-related rains from October, putting pressure on public institutions and businesses to prepare for possible disruptions.
“Stakeholders in the justice sector, how prepared are you? Has the TLS prepared a way of continuing to hear these cases if roads become inaccessible?” Justice Masaju asked.
He challenged law firms, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Solicitor General’s Office and other stakeholders to assess their preparedness and identify alternative ways of maintaining essential services if the rains cause major disruptions.
For businesses and individuals involved in economic disputes, such interruptions could add to existing delays in resolving cases, potentially affecting debt recovery, investment decisions, commercial transactions and access to justice.
Justice Masaju also urged Tanzanians to take practical precautions while seeking divine intervention, saying natural disasters can exceed the ability of individuals and institutions to control them.
“We should not have pride in the strength of life. Water has power; high-rise buildings may not help when a major disaster occurs,” he said.
He referred stakeholders to Psalm 103 as a guide for prayers, saying the country should seek protection from disasters while also putting in place measures within its control.
The Chief Justice used the meeting to highlight factors contributing to delays in resolving economic disputes, grouping them into challenges originating from the Judiciary, the legal framework and stakeholders.
He said one problem was the filing of cases primarily to delay the repayment of debts, allowing some parties to avoid meeting their financial obligations.
Justice Masaju said stronger financial education, particularly on borrowing and insurance, could help reduce disputes by ensuring people understand their contractual obligations before entering into financial arrangements.
He also raised concern over the use of legal technicalities to prolong hearings and delay decisions.
Citing Article 107A(2)(e) of the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania, 1977, he said procedural requirements should not be applied in a way that prevents justice from being delivered.
“When we rely on these technicalities, we only postpone the dispute; we do not resolve it,” he said.
The Chief Justice also called for more effective handling of the mandatory 90-day notices issued before parties sue the Government and its institutions.
He said officials responsible for receiving and processing the notices should focus on resolving the underlying disputes early, including through negotiations and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.
“Those responsible for processing the notices issued by people intending to sue the Government and its institutions should take responsibility for addressing the challenges that lead them to seek court intervention. In that way, many disputes will end,” he said.
Justice Masaju said the Judiciary was also expanding the use of information and communication technology (ICT) to improve case management and reduce administrative delays.
He said digital systems could reduce paperwork, shorten processing times and administrative costs, improve transparency and accountability, and give stakeholders faster access to case information.
The systems could also provide reliable data to help the Judiciary measure performance and plan its operations, he said.
He urged justice sector stakeholders to embrace digital transformation as part of efforts to meet the objectives of the Tanzania Development Vision 2050.
Justice Masaju further described accountability as both a constitutional requirement and an important element of the country's development agenda.
Citing Article 25 of the Constitution, he said public officials and other stakeholders have a duty to work responsibly, diligently and with discipline in pursuing national objectives.
He commended the National Planning Commission for its efforts to strengthen accountability under the country's long-term development framework.
The Chief Justice concluded by urging every justice sector stakeholder to assess their institutional capacity, operational systems and ethical standards, and address weaknesses that could delay the delivery of justice.
The call comes as the Judiciary seeks to improve the speed and efficiency of resolving economic disputes, which can have direct consequences for businesses, investors, creditors and members of the public.