The Validity of the Application of Ignorance of the Law as no Defence In Tanzania

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preliminary pages Page

Certification .................................................................................... .i

Declaration .................................................................................... .ii

C

. h ... opyng t statement ............................................................................ 111

Dedication ..................................................................................... .iv

Acknowledgement ............................................................................ v

Abstract ............................................................................................... vi

Abbreviation of terms ........................................................................ x

CHAPTER ONE

1.1 Introduction .................................................................................. 1

1.2 Historical background ...................................................................... 2

1.3 Statement of the problem ............................................................... .4

1.4 Literature review ................................................................................. 5

1.5 Significance of the study ................................................................... 11

1.6 Scope of the study ......................................................................... 11

1.7 Objective of the study ........................................................................ 12

1.8 Hypothesis ..................................................................................... 12

1.9 Research methodology .................................................................... 12

1.9.1 Population and Sampling technique ....................................................... 12

1.9.2 Procedure and Time and Frame ............................................................. 13

1.9.3 Types ofData .................................................................................. 13

1.9 .4 Data analysis and interpretation ........................................................... 13

1.9.5 Scope and Limitation of the study ......................................................... 13

Vll

1.10 Structure of the work ........................................................................ 14

CHAPTER TWO: The Rule of Ignorance of the Law as No Defence

2.1 Introduction ................................................................................... 15

2.2 Ignorance of the Law Is No Defence ..................................................... .l8

2.2.1 Strict Liability on Ignorance of the Law .............................................. 20

2.2.2 The Rationale ofthe Rule: (Ignorance ofthe Law Is No Defence) ............... 22

2.3 Exceptions to the Rule ...................................................................... 23

2.4 Conclusion .................................................................................... 24

CHAPTER THREE: Is Inaccessibilty of the Law a Defense? An

International Perspective Analysis in Context of Transitional Online

Regulation

3.1 Introduction .................................................................................. 25

3.2 A Legal Right to Accessible Laws? ...................................................... 26

3.3 When is Accessible Accessible Enough? .............................................. .30

3.4 Conclusion ................................................................................... 38

CHAPTER FOUR: The Validity of the Application of Ignorance of the

Law as no Defense in Tanzania

lf .1 Introduction ................................................................................ 40

4.2 The knowledge of law in Tanzania ..................................................... 40

vm

'-f.2.1 Economic status ........................................................................ 41

1; .2.2 Infrastructure system ..................................................................... 41

-4 .2.3 Literacy .......................................................................... 42

Lt.2.4 Language barrier ...................................................................... 42

-4.2.5 Basic knowledge ofthe law .................................................................. 43

4.2.7 Conclusion .............................................................................. 43

CHAPTER FIVE: Impacts of Presumption of Knowledge of Law

5.1 Introduction ............................................................................... 44

5.2 Impact oflgnorance of the Law ....................................................... .44

5.3 Impact of Presumption of Knowledge of Law ....................................... .46

5.Lt Conclusion .................................................................................. 47

CHAPTER SIX: Recommendations and Conclusion

6.1 Recommendations ......................................................................... 48

6.2 Conclusion .................................................................................... 51

BIDLIOGRAPHY

List of Statutes ................................................................................. 54

List Cases ......................................................................................... 55

Selected Bibliography ............................................................................ 57

ABSTRACT

This research paper consists of the examination of the validity of the criminal rule of "ignorance of the law is no defense" in Tanzania. The first chapter defines and makes an analysis of the problem, its background, the coverage of the study, methodology along with the review of related literature to the study at hand.  Chapter two covers the rule of ignorance the law as no defense in its broad sense and  coverage, its limitation and inclusion. It puts forth the application of the rule in Tanzanian courts of law and people's knowledge of it. The third chapter discusses the issue of inaccessibility of the law in context of transitional online regulation at international level. The discussion of the validity of the rule of ignorance of the law in Tanzania is made under the fourth chapter of this paper.  Chapter five discusses the impact of knowledge of law while chapter six concludes the paper  and gives recommendations in respect to the problems illuminated in the work.