Tanzania, March 23 -- Arusha. The Court of Appeal has quashed a 30-year prison sentence imposed on Lemindea Lesira after finding serious legal errors in the way the victim's evidence was received during the trial, ruling that the mistake left the conviction without sufficient proof.

Lesira had been convicted by a lower court of rape and sentenced to 30 years in prison. He had also been found guilty of causing grievous harm contrary to Section 225 of the Penal Code and cruelty to a child contrary to Section 169A (1) and (2), for which he was sentenced to five years' imprisonment and ordered to pay compensation to the victim.

In its decision delivered on March 20, 2026, a panel of three judges - Winfrida Korosso, Lilian Mashaka and Paul N...