Tabora wants forensic laboratory to speed up investigations

TABORA: TABORA Regional Adminstrative Secretary Dr John Mboya has urged the Government Chemist Laboratory Authority (GCLA) to establish a forensic laboratory in the region to facilitate faster processing of evidence and eliminate the need to transport samples over long distances.

Speaking during a meeting with criminal justice stakeholders, including police officers, magistrates, prosecutors, social welfare officers and district medical officers, Dr Mboya underscored the importance of having a local laboratory to support forensic investigations.

Currently, authorities rely on laboratories in Dodoma and Mwanza, which delays evidence processing and prolongs legal proceedings.

He noted that many criminal cases require scientific evidence to establish facts and ensure justice is served promptly.

By bringing forensic services closer, the collection, preservation, transportation and analysis of samples would be expedited, leading to faster case resolutions.

Dr Mboya expressed concerns that transporting sensitive samples over long distances could compromise their integrity or cause delays.

He emphasised the critical role of forensic results in criminal investigations, stating that scientific evidence eliminates uncertainties in court cases.

He further assured that the regional administration is ready to allocate land for the construction of a satellite forensic laboratory.

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He also called on criminal justice stakeholders to strictly adhere to proper sample collection, storage, transportation and analysis procedures to maintain the integrity of forensic evidence.

He noted that improving forensic handling practices would strengthen legal proceedings and ensure fair judgments in criminal cases. GCLA Manager of the Central Zone Office in Dodoma, Mr Gerald Mollel, acknowledged that while the forensic laboratory delivers timely results, delays often arise when law enforcement officers fail to collect reports promptly.

To address this, GCLA now prepares a weekly report summary and shares it with the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI), urging officers nationwide to collect forensic reports as soon as they are ready.

He commended President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan for her continued investment in forensic technology, which has enabled GCLA to conduct high-quality forensic investigations using state-of-the-art equipment.

Mr Mollel noted that forensic test results in Tanzania are now internationally reliable, with findings that match global standards.

Mr Mollel urged law enforcement officers and other criminal justice stakeholders to ensure that collected samples meet forensic standards by following professional handling and preservation procedures.

He stressed that proper forensic protocols help eliminate case backlogs, prevent wrongful convictions and ensure guilty individuals face justice.

Assistant Inspector of Police Omary Matesa, a forensic investigator from Tabora, speaking on behalf of the participants, thanked the GCLA for providing valuable training.

He emphasised that strong collaboration among criminal justice stakeholders is essential to ensuring timely and accurate investigations.