DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) -- The Tanzanian government on Tuesday said it would challenge a High Court ruling that would allow independent candidates to contest presidential and parliamentary offices.

Opposition parties and lobby groups had hailed Friday's ruling, saying it would broaden people's opportunities in a political arena dominated by the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM, or Party of the Revolution) for nearly 50 years. The High Court ruled after a suit by Christopher Mtikila, chairman of the Democratic Party, one of many Tanzanian opposition parties.

But Frederick Werema, director of the Constitution and Human Rights Department at the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, said the government would challenge the ruling because it contravened the constitution.

"This decision requires the clarification of an appeals court," he said.

Mtikila told Reuters he had expected such a reaction from the government was ready to "to fight it out".

In an earlier ruling welcomed by rights groups, the High Court last month banned the practice of giving tips and gifts to entertain candidates during elections, which the groups said encouraged corruption.