Govt warns against attempt to undermine Constitutional rights

SONGEA: THE Minister for Constitution and Legal Affairs Dr Damas Ndumbaro has issued a warning against any attempts to undermine the constitutional right to vote, stressing that the government will not allow political actors to prevent General Election from taking place.

Speaking over the weekend during the launch of a legal education training session for more than 600 local leaders in Songea Municipality, Dr Ndumbaro called on political leaders to respect the Constitution and refrain from inciting citizens to abstain from voting.

“If any political party decides to boycott the elections, they should inform their members internally. There is no need to go around the country discouraging citizens from exercising their right to vote,” said the minister.

He said that the right to vote belongs to individual citizens, not to political parties.

“The right to vote is a personal constitutional right. That’s why, through this training, we are urging leaders to encourage, not force, citizens to vote,” he added.

Citing Article 5 of the Constitution, Dr Ndumbaro noted that every Tanzanian citizen aged 18 or above is entitled to vote and no individual or group has the authority to infringe upon that right.

The legal education training programme was organised by the Ministry of Constitution and Legal Affairs through the Mama Samia Legal Aid Campaign, a nationwide initiative aimed at expanding access to legal knowledge at the grassroots level.

He said the training is designed to equip local leaders with legal knowledge to better support justice administration and community-level dispute resolution, in line with Article 13(6)(a) of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to be heard.

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“By training grassroots leaders on legal matters and human rights, we are empowering them to foster a just, peaceful and fair environment for the citizens they serve,” said Dr Ndumbaro.

The training includes key areas such as alternative dispute resolution, mediation, reconciliation and arbitration methods aimed at reducing unnecessary court cases and easing the burden on the judiciary.

He stressed that properly trained leaders can help resolve conflicts before they escalate to legal battles, contributing to the reduction of social disputes and strengthening peace and stability.

“The legal campaign is a practical demonstration of the rule of law and reflects President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s vision of ensuring justice for all. By enhancing legal literacy among local leaders, we are reinforcing the foundations of good governance,” he said.

Dr Ndumbaro noted that the initiative will not only enhance service delivery at the local level but also instill ethics, integrity and a culture of legal compliance in community leadership