DAR ES SALAAM: MAJOR reforms in Tanzania’s Judiciary have significantly contributed to reducing overcrowding in the country’s prisons, according to the Commissioner General of Prisons, Jeremiah Katungu.
Speaking yesterday during a courtesy call on the Chief Justice of Tanzania, Professor Ibrahim Hamis Juma, at the Court of Appeal building in Dar es Salaam, General Katungu acknowledged the role of judicial reforms in alleviating prison congestion.
“The improvements in the judicial process have greatly helped us in managing prison congestion,” General Katungu said. “The national prison capacity is 29,902 inmates, but currently, we are accommodating around 27,000. This reduction in numbers is directly related to the judicial reforms, including the timely hearing and determination of cases.”
Accompanied by the Commissioner for Laws and Prisons Operations, Nicodemus Tenga, General Katungu expressed gratitude for the ongoing judicial improvements, which have contributed to speeding up the delivery of justice.
He also highlighted the benefits of remote hearings, particularly through video conferencing, which have reduced the need for transporting prisoners to courts minimising risks and saving time.
“We request continued cooperation between the judiciary and the Prisons Department to further improve efficiency,” he added. “Additionally, I encourage our IT officers to learn from their counterparts in the judiciary to enhance our technological capabilities.”
General Katungu acknowledged that while the Prisons Department is making progress with its own use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), it still lags behind the judiciary in terms of speed and efficiency.
He requested the opportunity for Prisons’ IT experts to engage with the judiciary’s team to learn from their advancements.
“The judiciary has made significant strides in integrating ICT into judicial matters and we are working hard to catch up,” he said. “If possible, we would appreciate our experts learning from yours, so that we can make faster progress.”
General Katungu called for the wider use of alternative sentences for minor offences, in line with the law and greater access to bail for bailable offences. He believes such measures could further help alleviate overcrowding in prisons. On his part, Commissioner Tenga thanked the Chief Justice for his willingness to cooperate with all stakeholders.
He particularly emphasised the need to explore alternative sentences for individuals with special needs, as many prisons lack the proper facilities to accommodate these prisoners.
In his response, Chief Justice Prof Juma expressed his appreciation for the visit, recognising the importance of Prisons as a key stakeholder in the criminal justice system.
“The Prisons Service is an integral part of the judiciary’s work in delivering justice,” said Prof Juma. He also supported General Katungu’s request for collaboration between the judiciary and the Prisons Department’s IT officers.
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“I fully agree that your IT officers should come and learn from our experts. If judicial experts from other countries are coming to study our systems, then our local stakeholders should also have the opportunity to do the same,”
he said. Prof Juma instructed the Registrar of the Court of Appeal, Mr George Herbert, to ensure that the necessary arrangements for this collaboration are made promptly.
In conclusion, the Registrar assured the visitors that their requests for support would be addressed in a timely manner.
