A Compulsory Research Report Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for Award of Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Degree of Mzumbe University
This study aims to examine the rule of conviction upon uncorroborated evidence in Rape proceedings where victim are Children. The study combined the use of Library Research and Field Research Collection Tools and methods. The field data included the use of open-ended and closed-ended Questionnaire and unstructured Interviews to gather information. Through library research various legal documents such as case laws, reports, dissertations, statutes and text books were read.
The researcher presented, Interpreted and analyzed data using a Qualitative technique to
gather non-numerical data and quantitative technique for gathering quantitative data. The researcher came to realize some difficulties on how to prove guiltiness of the accused because of the logic that in most cases women, as well as children, are liars especially when it comes to the matter of relationship hence some times to require corroboration to be acted upon.
The researcher concludes that the Rule of conviction upon the uncorroborated testimony of victim child in rape proceedings should be the rule of practice and not the law as that if a court could satisfy upon a truth of victim child. After having eliminated all of the doubt then it could be lawful to rely on the same. It is thus important to ensure the best interests of children are protected as stated in international laws and Tanzanian of laws in particular.