Tanzanian government triples Mama Samia Legal Aid Campaign’s budget to Sh6 billion
What you need to know:
- The expansion, undertaken in the 2024/25 financial year, aims to provide legal assistance to a greater number of citizens in need
Dodoma. The government has increased the budget for the Mama Samia Legal Aid campaign from Sh2 billion to Sh6 billion.
The expansion undertaken in the 2024/25 financial year aims to provide legal assistance to a greater number of citizens in need.
The legal campaign, launched in April last year by the Ministry of Constitution and Legal Affairs, has already extended its reach to seven regions.
The ministry’s Policy and Planning Director, Mr Mbaraka Stambuli, made the statement on Friday, July 12, 2024, shortly after a meeting between the ministry’s management and the National Advisory Committee on the Implementation of the Generation Equality Programme.
He said, through the campaign, they had found that the major disputes that caused people to seek legal aid were about inheritance and land issues.
He stated that to address this issue, they have initiated public education campaigns encouraging individuals to draft wills proactively.
This proactive approach aims to prevent families from enduring prolonged disputes that can lead to division and discord.
"Writing wills will help relatives, children, and close family members with an interest in those properties to avoid conflicts and any inconveniences that may arise after the owner's death," said Mr Stambuli.
Regarding land disputes, he noted that the root cause often lies in a lack of education, which has resulted in many women losing their rights to own land.
"So, we advise them to take advantage of jointly owning one title deed between husband and wife to avoid potential challenges and ensure their right to own land," said Mr Stambuli.
The Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism and Chairperson of the National Advisory Committee on the Implementation of the Generation Equality Programme, Ms Angellah Kairuki, urged the Ministry of Constitution and Legal Affairs to collaborate with her committee to tackle issues affecting women.
"As you implement this legal aid campaign, let this committee also receive reports to see how we can work together and achieve our President's goal of having an equitable generation without leaving anyone behind," said Ms Kairuki.
