Rule of Law vs. Rulers of Law. Justice Barnabas Albert Samatta's Road To Justice: Justice Barnabas Albert Samatta's Road To Justice

How I Remember Retired Chief Justice Barnabas Samatta

How I Remember Retired Chief Justice Barnabas Samatta Eusebio Nicholas Munuo [Mrs.]33 The retired learned Chief Justice is an icon of human dignity and respect. Whether in office or out of office, he maintains a confident aura, all the time portraying decorum and peace. Few people fit into this description. The learned Retired Chief Justice is a free citizen of a free country with a clean record of peace and stability in the human race. In this regard, the learned retired Chief Justice reflects the pride of patriotic senior citizens of this nation, who have ardently and vigorously safeguarded national unity, peace, good governance and the rule of law. Samatta is a legal luminary of the noble profession of law. He is a dedicated national leader of great magnanimity. Mr. Justice Barnabas Albert Samatta honorably relinquished the office of Chief Justice. However, as his intellectual abilities are still on high demand, he was appointed by the President of the United Republic of Tanzania to be the Chancellor of Mzumbe University located at Morogoro. Hence, he will continue to disseminate legal knowledge, skill and expertise, this time not in the courts, but in the academic forum. Law students, professors, administrators and the younger generation will learn from the selflessness, shrewdness, integrity and sense of responsibility of the retired Chief Justice. He invokes natural justice and wisdom in tackling administrative matters. He has an impeccable sense of leadership. The words discrimination, nepotism, abuse of power, 33.Justice of the Court of Appeal of Tanzania 36 RULE OF LAW VERSUS RULERS OF LAW suppression and arrogance do not feature in the vocabulary or life style of the Retired Chief Justice Samatta. While he fatherly admonished erring judicial officers, he wasted no time dismissing corrupt judicial officers who betrayed the cause of justice provided the charges of soliciting or receiving bribery were substantiated beyond all reasonable doubt. The learned Chief Justice had no problem with faithful, truthful, honest and hard working staff. The learned Retired Chief Justice Samatta advocated and practiced the Independence of the Judiciary. I have been serving the Judiciary of Tanzania since 1970.To date I have not come across a judicial officer complaining that the Retired Chief Justice interfered with a matter before him except for purposes of revision, appeal or some other judicial function allowed by law. Authorities who go out of their way to influence decisions have one disadvantage: the victims will often spread word around. Like many other judicial officers who served under Mr. Justice Samatta, I certify that he complied with the oath of office he took; he complied with the provisions of the Constitution and the laws of the land. He observed the spirit and letter of the Independence of the Judiciary and challenged magistrates and judges to decide cases on the facts, issues, evidence and the law impartially, without fear or favour. The learned Retired Chief Justice is tolerant and patient. Judges sometimes differ during panel discussions. Where a member of a panel dissented, he left no stone unturned and by further discussing the matter the dissenting opinion would indeed, after a thorough deliberation, be the decision of the Court or remain a dissenting judgment. Just as a farmer tills the ground and harrows the field before sowing seeds, pleadings, facts, evidence, and authorities have to be sorted out, sifted, exhaustively scrutinized, edited and re-edited to the satisfaction of the panel before issuing the decision of the Court. The process would be done with a cool and settled mind and under no pressure whatsoever regardless of how complex or involved the case was. It is difficult to write about the outstanding and excelling performance of Retired Chief Justice Samatta. Even when stressed with judicial activities, he remained composed and systematic, he left nothing to chance. He was an exemplary judicial officer by any standard. He administered quality justice for this and for future generations. With the above in mind, and like all others who wish him well, I also take this opportunity to wish the Retired Chief Justice a blessed happy life with his wife Mercy, and their children. ...