Councils urged to surpport primary court renovations

DODOMA: CHIEF Justice Professor Ibrahim Juma has asked all councils across the country to allocate budget for the construction and renovation of primary courts in their areas to ensure justice services are more accessible to the public.

He said councils are in good position to support the provision of justice by participating in improvement of court infrastructures.

Prof Juma was speaking yesterday during the inauguration of the newly constructed Judiciary headquarters in Dodoma. The new structure, along with, Judicial Service Commission and Judges’ residences were inaugurated by President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

“It is the right time for the District Commissioners, District Executive Directors and Councillors to support the Judiciary’s efforts by allocating resources for the construction of court buildings especially the Primary Courts in their respective areas,” said the CJ.

He added that the implementation of the Judiciary’s Strategic Infrastructure Plan demands substantial financial investment and getting support from local authorities is vital in bridging the infrastructure gap especially in rural and underserved areas.

“This support will help to eliminate the challenge of limited court buildings and enable many citizens to access justice services closer to their communities,” he added.

Prof Juma expressed gratitude to President Samia and the sixth -phase government for facilitating what he described as a historic transformation of court infrastructure across the country.

He said: “This initiative is delivering big results by expanding access to justice, reducing case backlogs and strengthening public confidence in the judicial system.”

Prof Juma expressed gratitude to the World Bank for supporting the judiciary to set up its infrastructure and improve systems of justice delivery.

The CJ explained that investments in the judicial system contribute to reducing inequality, promoting economic progress and improve citizens’ quality of life.

He described the newly inaugurated Judiciary headquarters as a landmark achievement and a testament to the Judiciary’s journey of reforms.

“This building stands as a record-breaking accomplishment for the Judiciary of Tanzania and a symbol of the visionary leadership of President Samia,” he added.

On his part, the Minister for Constitutional and Legal Affairs, Dr Damas Ndumbaro said the Head of State has shown great commitment in ensuring justice is accessed by all in the country.

He highlighted several achievements, including the Mama Samia Legal Aid Campaign, which has already reached more than 20 regions, with plans to cover all 31 regions by May 2025.

He said the government has trained more paralegals, increasing their numbers from 604 in 2021 to 2,205 as of 2025.

The Minister also explained that there has been significant increase of legal aid institutions from 84 of 2021 to 377 in 2025.

“President Samia also established the Criminal Justice Commission, which has significantly improved the country’s judicial system, including reducing prison overcrowding and expediting case processing,” he said.

ALSO READ: Samia affirms judiciary’s role in achieving Tanzania’s Vision 2050

Earlier, Chief Court Administrator, Prof Elisante Ole Gabriel, said the newly inaugurated Judiciary Headquarters covers 63,244 square metres. “This is the largest Judiciary headquarters in Africa and the sixth globally,” said Prof Gabriel.

The building, which is designed to last for over 100 years, sets a new standard for judicial infrastructure on the continent.

The Chief Court Administrator also pointed out that the world’s largest judicial headquarters, located in Asia, spans 147,000 square metres.