Barnabas Samatta

Barnabas Albert Samatta served as Chief Justice of Tanzania from 2000 to July 2007, succeeding Francis Nyalali, after a legal career spanning four decades. He joined government service as a state attorney in 1966, became Director of Public Prosecutions for Tanzania Mainland in 1972, was appointed a High Court judge in 1976, and served as a High Court judge in Zimbabwe from 1984 to 1987 before returning to become Principal Judge of the High Court of Tanzania in 1989. As Chief Justice he also chaired Tanzania's Judicial Service Commission and served as vice chairperson of the Southern African Judges Commission, and after retiring he became Chancellor of Mzumbe University.