Legal Aid law planned

Tanganyika Law Society member, Ms Victoria Mandari attends to a widow Amina Muyove during the Legal Aid Day at Mnazi Mmoja in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

Planned to minimise the number of Tanzanians who lose their rights because they are either ignorant of the law or cannot hire private lawyers, the government is planning a law that will make provision of legal aid more formal.

Addressing a Legal Aid Day rally at Mnazi Mmoja Grounds in Dar es Salaam yesterday, the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Dr Mary Nagu, said the government was aware of the many people who lose their rights, either because of ignorance of the law or some other reasons.

The minister said legal aid was important in serving justice in Tanzania at the moment, adding that initially a special scheme to help people denied of their rights would be established and overseen by the Legal Sector Reform Programme (LSRP) The scheme, she said, would be called Legal Aid Network.

In the same vein, the minister said, the government was considering enacting a Legal Aids Act.

“My ministry appreciates the importance of legal aid. We are in the process of establishing the legal aid department, which will follow up closely issues regarding legal aid and those relating to the establishment of the network,” explained Dr Nagu.

Chief Justice Augustino Ramadhani addressing the rally, said he has set aside Saturdays to meet people with legal problems.

“My door are open (for those with legal problems).” This year’s theme is 'the Down Trodden also Have Rights by Actions'.

More than 500 people in need of legal aid met specially arranged lawyers, including the chief justice.

Justice Ramadhani received Mr Ali Madenge, an ex-worker of Bora Shoes Company, whose labour dispute has remained pending since 1991.

Judge Ramadhani told the complainant to report to his office on Tuesday and promising to go through the case file next Wednesday.

Some 120 had land complaints, 97 had labour complaints and 90 had inheritance grievances.

The function was organised by the Tanganyika Law Society (TLS).