OCPD moves to simplify laws for farmers, pastoralists, fishermen
DODOMA: The Office of the Chief Parliamentary Draftsman (OCPD) has pledged to simplify laws by translating them into easy-to-understand Kiswahili and providing legal education accessible to ordinary citizens, including farmers, pastoralists, and fishermen.
OCPD’s Parliamentary Draftsman Joseph Shoo made the remarks at the ongoing National and International Nane Nane Exhibition at the Dr John Samuel Malecela Grounds in Dodoma on Friday, saying the goal is to ensure that laws do not remain confined to legal experts’ books but reach citizens who apply them in their daily lives.
“The development of the agricultural, livestock, and fisheries sectors cannot rely solely on technology, inputs, and markets. Understanding the laws that protect the rights of farmers, pastoralists, and fishermen is an essential foundation for increasing production, boosting trade, and ensuring citizens enjoy their rights,” he said.
Through legal education, Advocate Shoo said, farmers can understand their rights and responsibilities regarding land use, agricultural contracts, food security, the use of inputs, cooperatives, and crop markets.
He added that pastoralists can gain knowledge of laws related to grazing land, livestock health, animal identification, and dispute resolution, while fishermen can learn about regulations governing sustainable fishing, licensing, water resource conservation, and fish trade.
“We use various methods to ensure legal education reaches as many citizens as possible,” the draftsman told the Daily News in the capital.
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Explaining the approaches being used by the OCPD to reach more Tanzanians, Advocate Shoo said the office is developing simplified publications, radio and television programmes, social media content, community meetings, trade and agricultural exhibitions, and digital platforms to make legal information easily accessible and timely.
“These initiatives help reduce conflicts arising from a lack of knowledge of the law, increase compliance, strengthen the rule of law, and empower citizens to make informed decisions in their production activities,” he added.
He said the government continues to emphasise the importance of bringing the law closer to the people through the use of Kiswahili and digital systems to improve access to justice and legal services.
“Our motto is that the law is a tool for development. When citizens understand the law, they are empowered to protect their rights, fulfil their responsibilities, and fully participate in the growth of the agricultural, livestock, and fisheries sectors,” Advocate Shoo said.
By making laws easier to understand and accessible to everyone, he said, the Office contributes to building a just and accountable society, as well as a strong economy that benefits all Tanzanians.
