AfricaPress-Tanzania: THE African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR) yesterday conveyed its condolences over the passing on of Justice Augustino Ramadhani, who served as the Judge of the continental court in various capacities between 2010 and 2016.
“It is with the deepest sorrow that we have learnt of the death of Hon Justice Augustino Ramadhani.
The African Court conveys its condolences to the family of the late Ramadhani, people of Tanzania and the entire Judiciary of Tanzania and beyond,” the President of the Court, Justice Sylvain Oré, said.
Justice Ramadhani was Judge of the court from 2010 to 2016 and as the President of the African Court between 2014 and 2016.
In a statement released by the Court, the president added: “He (Justice Ramadhani) was an exemplary leader and unshaken in his pursuit of justice and protection of human rights on our continent. He will be fondly remembered for his devotion for furthering the ideals and objectives of the African Court.”
The president remarked further that Justice Ramadhani was consistent and mentored many judges and staff. ”He foresaw good in everybody… he was like a father, big brother and above all a man of good faith and vision,” President Oré added.
Justice Ramadhani held a Bachelor of Laws Degree from the University of Dar es Salaam (1970), a Master of Laws from the University of Dar es Salaam (1978) in International Law (the law of armed conflict) and a Bachelor of Divinity from the University of London (2004).
Immediately after obtaining his first degree, Justice Ramadhani joined the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces.
After training in the Tanzania Military Academy, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and reached the rank of Brigadier General.
He was voluntarily released in 1996 when Tanzania resumed multiparty democracy. Prior to being appointed Judge of the African Court, Justice Ramadhani was a Justice of Appeal Court of the United Republic of Tanzania from 1989 to 2010 when he retired after attaining compulsory retirement age of 65 years.
In his last three years on the bench, he was the Chief Justice of Tanzania from 2007 to 2010. Justice Ramadhani was also the Chief Justice of Zanzibar from 1980 to 1989.
He had served as a Judge of the East African Court of Justice from 2001 to 2007.
From 1993 to 2003, Justice Ramadhani was the Vice Chairman of the National Electoral Commission which conducts presidential, parliamentary and local government elections in the United Republic of Tanzania.
He held the same position in the Zanzibar Electoral Commission from 2002 to 2007. Justice Ramadhani was the Chairman of Executive Council of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Electoral Commission Forum in 2006 and 2007.
Justice Ramadhani has published articles on human rights, such as ‘Promoting a New Economic Order in Developing Countries: A Role for Human Rights Organizations’, published in Speaking about Rights (Canada Human Rights Foundation Newsletter), Vol. XI No. 3/1996.
