Tanzania's Legal Reforms Aim to Deliver Inclusive Justice

As the Sixth Phase Government of Tanzania, under the leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, marks four years in office, major progress has been recorded in overhauling the country’s legal and constitutional sectors.

These reforms are designed to make the justice system more inclusive, accessible, and aligned with the principles of good governance.

Minister for Constitution and Legal Affairs Dr. Damas Ndumbaro said that the reforms are part of a national vision to ensure that legal systems are not just confined to courtrooms and law libraries, but become instruments that shape the daily lives of Tanzanians.

“We want to ensure that the law is living — that it breathes in the streets, villages, and homes of every Tanzanian,” said Dr. Ndumbaro during a press briefing in Dodoma, the country’s legislative capital.

Expanding Access Through Legal Aid

A central part of these reforms has been the Mama Samia Legal Aid Campaign, which provides legal education and services to underserved communities. As of 2025, the program has reached over 2.7 million people in 25 regions, 180 local government authorities, and more than 5,700 villages and urban streets.

To facilitate this, the government has created 184 Legal Aid Desks and hired over 449 legal officers. These units operate at the grassroots level, offering practical legal assistance to citizens facing disputes, land issues, domestic violence, and other civil matters.

Modernizing Legal Systems

In a major update to the country’s legal structure, the Attorney General’s Office completed a comprehensive review of 446 principal laws. This effort led to the publication of the Revised Edition of the Laws of Tanzania 2023, which will come into effect on July 1, 2025. It is the first update of its kind since 2002 and was done entirely using domestic resources, reflecting the country’s drive for self-reliance.

Boosting Judicial Capacity

The government has made significant investments in strengthening the judicial system. Since 2021, the number of judges has risen from 92 to 146, and magistrates now exceed 1,426. These additions have helped reduce judicial backlog, with old cases now constituting just 4% of total pending matters.

To further enhance the justice delivery system, the government has constructed six new Integrated Justice Centres in key urban regions like Mwanza, Arusha, Morogoro, and Dar es Salaam. Nine more are underway in areas such as Katavi, Simiyu, and Geita.

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In parallel, dozens of Primary Courts and District Court buildings have been completed or are under construction in areas like Mbulu, Hanang, Kibiti, and Songwe.

Leveraging Technology

The HAKI SHERIA Portal, a digital platform designed to simplify citizen access to legal services, is now active in 184 councils. Citizens can file complaints, receive legal advice, and track cases from their phones or community centers.

Additionally, the judiciary has launched a Transcription and Translation System (TTS) that can convert court proceedings from English to Kiswahili and vice versa — a significant move to bridge language barriers in legal settings.

International Recognition and Legislative Updates

Tanzania’s legal reforms have drawn global praise. In 2023, the country received an “A status” accreditation from the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), reflecting its commitment to protecting human rights and promoting accountability.

Between 2021 and 2025 alone, 57 principal laws and over 4,000 subsidiary regulations have been enacted or amended, a scale of legal overhaul rarely seen in the region.