The Appellant along with another who is not a party to this
appeal, were charged with trafficking in narcotic drugs contrary to section 16
(1) (b) of the Drugs and Prevention of Illicit Traffic Drugs Act [Cap 95 R.E.
2002] as amended by section 31 of the Written Laws (Miscellaneous Amendments)
(No. 2) Act No. 6 of 2012. The prosecution alleged that the Appellant and his
co-accused on 11th January, 2015, at Inyala Village within the
District and Region of Mbeya Region, jointly and together, trafficked in
narcotic drugs, to wit, 138 bundles of catha edulis commonly known as mirungi
weighing 42.44 kilogrammes valued at Tanzania Shillings Two One Hundred
Twenty-Two Thousand (Tshs. 2,122,000.00). After a full trial featuring nine
prosecution witnesses and the Appellant testifying upon oath in his defence,
the High Court sitting at Mbeya convicted him of the offence as charged and
imposed on him the mandatory life sentence. His co-accused was acquitted.
Resenting the outcome of the trial, the Appellant now appeals against both
conviction and sentence.