Mama Samia legal aid campaign to begin next week

TANZANIA: THE Mama Samia Legal Aid Campaign is set to begin next week in six regions, with plans to visit various prisons across the country to offer legal aid to prisoners and remandees.

This announcement was made yesterday by the National Coordinator of the campaign at the Ministry of Constitution and Legal Affairs, Esther Msambazi, during a two-day training session for the campaign coordinators at the council level.

These coordinators will be responsible for overseeing the campaign’s mplementation. Msambazi said that the decision to train the coordinators was made to ensure effective coordination and outreach, so that as many citizens as possible benefit from the legal aid offered by the campaign.

She added that the campaign had already been held in 11 regions, with 15 regions remaining. This month, the campaign is expected to be launched in six regions– Lindi, Mtwara, Kigoma, Geita, Katavi and Kagera.

“The goal is to reach as many citizens as possible and cover more areas and regions. Today, we are gathered with experts to ensure we have a common understanding of how to implement this campaign effectively,” Msambazi said.

She further said that the Ministry of Constitution and Legal Affairs views the campaign as a shared goal with all stakeholders.

As part of the collaboration, 20 lawyers from the Tanganyika Law Society (TLS) are participating, in line with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in December last year, aimed at enhancing cooperation in the area of legal aid.

“After this training, the council coordinators, in collaboration with their regional counterparts, will begin organising the logistics to start the campaign immediately,” Msambazi said.

Msambazi also noted the crucial role of TLS in the campaign. The association’s lawyers will provide legal assistance to citizens, helping them understand their rights and obligations.

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Many citizens, she pointed out, are involved in legal disputes but lack the financial means to hire lawyers. The participation of TLS will ensure that these individuals have access to legal representation without financial barriers.

“Citizens with ongoing court cases will now be in a position to receive legal representation, eliminating any doubts about their access to justice,” she noted.

As part of the campaign, the ministry plans to build the capacity of lawyers across the country.

Two lawyers will be assigned to each council to provide legal aid services, in accordance with the agreement with TLS and other stakeholders.

In her New Year’s speech, President Samia Suluhu Hassan also expressed the government’s commitment to amending laws to improve access to legal aid, particularly for the poor, through the Mama Samia Legal Aid Campaign.