ZLS, Constitution, Legal, Public Service bodies table joint bid to review and amending Isles laws

ZANZIBAR: THE Zanzibar Law Society (ZLS) and the Office of the President – Constitution, Legal Affairs, Public Service and Good Governance have agreed to strengthen cooperation in providing legal aid services to the public and reviewing and amending various laws.

The agreement was discussed during a visit by members of the ZLS Governing Council to the ministry, where they met the minister responsible, Dr Haroun Ali Suleiman. The visit aimed to strengthen working relations between the two institutions.

The ZLS delegation included Governing Council members; Masoud Salim, Alphonce Gura and Mufida Salum, accompanied by the society’s Executive Director, Shabani Seleman Mwangoda.

Speaking during the meeting, Mwangoda said ZLS was continuing to improve its operational systems and was ready to work with the ministry’s Legal Aid Department to expand access to legal aid services for all residents of Zanzibar.

He added that the society planned to introduce a digital system that would enable members of the public to apply for legal aid services through the ZLS website, www.zls.or.tz.

Dr Haroun commended ZLS for its efforts to strengthen cooperation with the ministry and emphasised the importance of involving the society more extensively in the ministry’s activities.

He said legal aid services played an important role in reaching people in need and contributing to economic, social and political development.

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“I emphasise the need for closer cooperation with the Law Society by increasing its involvement in various ministry activities,” Dr Haroun said.

Meanwhile, the ministry’s Director of Constitution and Legal Aid Services, Hanifa Ramadhani, pledged to strengthen cooperation with ZLS in the agreed areas. She said the efforts would include reviving plans to develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two institutions to facilitate the implementation of their joint responsibilities.

Members of the ZLS Governing Council also expressed their readiness to work with the ministry in reviewing and amending various laws.

In addition, the delegation invited Dr Haroun to attend the East African Law Society (EALS) Annual General Meeting, scheduled to take place in Zanzibar in November 2026, with ZLS serving as the host.

At the conclusion of the visit, Dr Haroun presented Mwangoda with a copy of the 2026 Legal Aid Policy as part of efforts to strengthen understanding and cooperation in the delivery of legal aid services.