How unlawful relationships spark social conflicts in Pugu

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Mama Samia Legal Aid Campaign (MSLAC) team in Ilala District has expressed concern over the growing number of women in Pugu Ward who are knowingly entering into relationships and having children with married men.

According to the team, although the men are legally bound by Christian matrimonial law, the relationships continue despite their legal commitments.

This revelation was made by Dr Baraka Mkami, the district coordinator for the campaign, during an interview with Daily News on the ongoing assessment of the legal aid initiative in Ilala.

The campaign, which provides free legal and counselling services, has been targeting ten wards in the district, including Pugu, with the aim of promoting awareness and access to justice.

“In Pugu, we’ve found a growing trend where women have children with men who are still legally married under Christian law,”

said Dr Mkami. “Shockingly, these women claim full rights as if they were legally wedded, boldly and openly asserting their status despite the fact that these men’s marriages have not been dissolved by a court of law.”

According to Dr Mkami, this practice is not only illegal under Tanzanian marriage law, but also undermines the ethical fabric of the community, fuelling unnecessary social conflicts.

He clarified that Christian marriages in Tanzania are monogamous and legally binding, meaning a man cannot marry another woman unless the existing marriage is formally annulled through court.

This requires a legal petition, judicial review of the case and if valid, the issuance of a court sanctioned divorce certificate.

“There is a widespread misunderstanding within the community,” Dr Mkami said. “People believe that just because a husband and wife are no longer living together, the marriage is automatically nullified. That is not the case. A legal process must be followed and only upon receiving a divorce decree can either party remarry.”

He stressed that once a court issues a divorce, the next legal step involves the distribution of marital assets to ensure both parties receive their rightful share. Only after this can either individual legally enter into a new marriage.

Highlighting the need for continued legal education, Dr Mkami stressed that a lack of awareness about marital laws is the root cause of many disputes in the area.

“This isn’t just a legal issue, it’s a moral and social one. Relationships built on the false assumption of legality are breeding grounds for family conflict and long-term psychological harm.”

In its service outreach to Pugu and Mzinga Wards, the campaign has already handled 54 cases of family and marital disputes, ranging from inheritance conflicts to unresolved divorce proceedings.

The Mama Samia Legal Aid Campaign, launched under the leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, aims to bring justice and legal literacy to underserved communities across Tanzania.

The campaign’s work in Ilala is part of a broader national initiative to ensure that citizens are informed, protected and empowered by the law.

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Dr Mkami concluded with a call to action: “Let us continue to educate our communities. Ignorance of the law is no defence and the consequences of these misunderstandings can be devastating for families, especially children.”