Fatma Karume, a lawyer practicing in Tanzania has been suspended from practicing for allegedly making remarks in her submission in a case challenging the appointment of Prof. Adelardus Kilangi as Attorney General of Tanzania.
Fatma, is an Advocate of the High Court of Tanzania and Zanzibar.
Huyu ni wakili Fatma Karume ni mfuasi wa utawala wa sheria unaozingatia katiba.Amesimamishwa uwakili kisa kusimamia kesi ya inayoelezea raisi amekiuka katiba kwa kumteua mwanasheria mkuu wa serikali asiekizi vigezo.Kudai haki kuna madhara lakini tusirudi nyuma tuendelee kudai hak pic.twitter.com/FGgSHvQ3T9
— 🇵🇸 (@UchafuziM) September 27, 2019
The Tanganyika Law Society, the National ar Association of Mainland Tanzania came to her defense and termed the suspension as “unlawful” in a statement regarding the powers of the Court to suspend an Advocate (Legal procedures and practice through court interpretation).
“The suspension of any advocate, without strict adherence to the principle of the right to be heard, is unlawful, stands to be overturned by the Advocates Committee, the High Court, or the Court of Appeal, and might also attract damages to the suspended advocate,” said Dr. Rugemeleza Nshala, the TLS President.
“The Governing Council, therefore, alerts those vested with admonishment and suspension powers to strictly afford advocates the right to be heard before they impose a stiff penalty of suspension (even temporarily pending reference to the Advocates Committee) or removal from the roll of Advocates.”
PRESS RELEASE 26/09/2019@TanganyikaLaw Press release regarding the powers of the Court to suspend an Advocate (Legal procedures and practice through court interpretation)@ITVTANZANIA @CloudsMediaLive @azamtvtz @WateteziTV @MwananchiNews @TheCitizenTZ @JamiiForums @darmpya_ pic.twitter.com/4F7Z3b2NtS
— Tanganyika Law Society(TLS) (@TanganyikaLaw) September 26, 2019
President John Magufuli appointed Dr. Adelardus Kilangi new Attorney General (AG) effectively from February 1, 2018. However, his appointment was opposed in court terming it unconstitutional.
