Child sex offenders to no longers work near children or in schools

Dar es Salaam. The government is in the process of establishing a system where individuals previously found guilty of committing sexual abuse against students will no longer be allowed to work in schools.

The minister of Constitutional and Legal Affairs, Dr Pindi Chana, made the remarks Tuesday, July 30, 2024, while inaugurating a legal aid service centre at Mwananyamala Hospital, which is operated in collaboration with the government, the German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ) and the Tanzania Women Lawyers Association (TAWLA).

“We want these people to stay away from our children, whether in primary or secondary schools;

They will not be allowed to approach them, and if possible, we will announce their names in the media so that people can know them,” she said.

She said these individuals have a tendency to spoil one place and move to another, but now they will not be allowed to teach or serve children.

Speaking about the legal aid centre, she said it has come at the right time because one of the recommendations of the criminal commission established by President Samia Suluhu Hassan is to have such centres at the grassroots level.

In her call, she wants no compromises in handling these abuse cases, and instead, the law should be followed so that the offender receives the appropriate punishment.

“I believe the establishment of these centres is a sign that we are bringing justice and change for the victims so that they do not feel alone, and we do not want compromises to be made.

“In this matter, I also urge the entire community to see that each of us has a duty to condemn sexual abuse against children and women, not to hesitate to report when they see it, and for families not to turn a blind eye when it happens in their homes,” said Dr Chana.

For his part, the German Ambassador, Thomas Terstegen, said it is good to have an inclusive centre that provides police, legal, and hospital services, and he promised that if it performs well, they will continue to open more centres in other hospitals in the country, including.

Earlier, the Head of the Gender Desk at GIZ, Catherine Kuehne, mentioned that a significant challenge they face in gender-based violence cases is the lengthy time it takes to hear them and, at times, not knowing where they end up.

They believe the presence of the centre will help survivors receive their justice.

Tanzania Women Lawyers Association (Tawla) Director Tike Mwambilipile said that legal services would be provided for free at the centre, and the individual will not have to pay the lawyer or any court fees during the case proceedings.

However, in her appeal, she asked the government to consider the need for a gender-based violence law, as the current law faces obstacles when it reaches court due to conflicts with marriage and child laws.

Chief Medical Officer of Mwananyamala Hospital, Zavery Benela, stated that from its inception until now, the centre has served 1,423 people, up from 350 when it was established two years ago.

“Despite these successes, the challenge we face is that victims of incidents arrive late, thus lacking evidence to present in court.

“Recognising this, we continue to educate the community on the importance of promptly reporting these incidents as soon as they occur,” said the doctor.