Govt vows legal access for all Tanzanians

DAR ES SALAAM: THE government has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding access to justice to ensure that every Tanzanian, regardless of location or economic status, have access legal services.

Speaking in Dar es Salaam on Thursday during the commemoration of 35 years of the Tanzania Women Lawyers Association (TAWLA), Ms Ester Msambazi, Head of the Legal Aid Unit at the Ministry of Constitution and Legal Affairs said that access to justice is a fundamental human right.

She noted, however, that many people in rural areas still face significant challenges in accessing legal services.

“Recognising the importance of legal services to the well-being and rights of citizens, the government has taken firm steps to bridge this gap by strengthening legal aid delivery and bringing justice closer to the people,” she said.

“As a Ministry, our responsibility is to bring legal services closer to the people, especially in villages, so that everyone can access justice and legal aid,” she said.

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According to Ms Msambazi, more than 5,000 legal assistants, or paralegals, have already been trained across the country, with 2,000 formally registered under the Legal Aid Act of 2017.

She said, “we are continuing with the training to ensure that every ward in the country has legal aid services available through paralegals.” One of the government’s most ambitious initiatives in this regard is the Mama Samia Legal Aid Campaign, launched under the leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

The campaign has already reached 25 regions on the Mainland and three in Zanzibar, offering free legal services and rights education at the grassroots level. Ms Msambazi explained that the campaign is designed not just for outreach, but for long-term sustainability.

“We involve local council officers so that once the campaign ends, they can continue to serve the community. These exercises are carried out by local government officials and include training for ward and village leaders to help deliver services even after we’ve moved on,” said Ms Msambazi She added that the campaign has revealed recurring legal challenges in the communities, especially land disputes.

Ms Msambazi said, “land conflict is the most common issue we encounter in many areas we visit, and a big part of the problem is rooted in outdated traditions and customs. To broaden the reach of legal services, the Ministry has partnered with professional and civil society organisations such as the Tanzania Law Society (TLS), TAWLA and the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC).

“We’ve partnered with TLS to ensure more lawyers can reach the people,” said Ms Msambazi.

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TLS supports by mobilising advocates to offer free legal services and assisting in paralegal training. TAWLA focuses on women’s rights, including issues of land ownership and gender-based violence, while LHRC provides legal aid, education, and human rights advocacy.

Additionally, the government has established 184 legal aid desks within district and municipal councils to serve as permanent centres for citizens to receive free legal support.

Legal aid clinics have also been set up in universities, allowing law students to gain hands-on experience while serving nearby communities. With a comprehensive approach that includes training, partnerships, legal aid desks and national outreach campaigns, the government is steadily building a more inclusive justice system.

Through these combined efforts, Tanzania is advancing toward a future where justice is accessible to all, del