• Commends the IJCs projects.
• Implores other institutions to copy the Judiciary's work.
By Mary Gwera, Judiciary of Tanzania
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs praised Tanzania's judiciary for completing six Integrated Justice Centres (IJC) projects in five regions, stating that the facilities will enhance access to justice to citizens.
This was said earlier yesterday on March 18th 2022 when the said Committee visited one of the six Integrated Justice Centres (IJCs) Projects in Arusha during the visit as the Legislators were performing their Parliamentary oversight role.
Following the visit of the project, Hon. Khadija Shaaban, a member of the Committee who is also a Member of Parliament representing People with Special Needs from Dodoma region, commended the Judiciary for innovations in justice delivery that meet international standards.
“I must say that these buildings are indeed fantastic and I think the Judiciary should be a good example to be copied by other Government Institutions such as President’s Office-Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG) to build such kind of structures to enable the citizens to access a wide range of services under one roof thus saving time and money,” remarked Hon. Khadija.
Equally, Hon. Abdullah Mwinyi, another member of the Committee, stated that the IJC Projects meet all international standards while also incorporating Tanzanian touches that make them more appealing.
“Let me admit that this court building has international standards from its appearance and the good thing that I am happy with is that apart from its international look there is also some of the Tanzania’s touches in it, for example, the installed Zanzibar doors and furniture which I believe they were locally made in Tanzania,” he emphasized.
Meanwhile, when presenting to the Committee Members regarding the above-mentioned Projects, the Chief Court Administrator, Prof. Elisante Ole Gabriel informed them that the country presently has six IJCs erected in five regions.
“A building like this one (IJC-Arusha) which comprises of all court levels and key stakeholders are also in Dar es Salaam (Temeke and Kinondoni), Morogoro, Dodoma and Mwanza. These buildings consist of all court levels including Primary Court to Court of Appeal. On behalf of the Chief Justice of Tanzania, Hon. Prof. Ibrahim Hamis Juma, I should thank Tanzania’s Government under the leadership of Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, the 6th President, for having facilitated the World Bank credit which funded these projects,” he said.
Prof. Ole Gabriel listed some of the advantages of IJCs, such as saving time and money, and stated that the Tanzanian Judiciary was planning to put up 12 more IJCs across the country to enhance public access to justice.
On his part, Hon. Geophrey Pinda, the Deputy Minister for Constitutional and Legal Affairs, stated that by 2025, the Government intends to have built District courts in every District and Primary Courts in each Division, to make court services more accessible and affordable to the citizens.
The Acting Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs, Hon. Emmanuel Mwakasaka, complimented the excellent oversight provided by Tanzania's judiciary in various building projects in his closing remarks following the Site's visit.
“The Judiciary of Tanzania is doing a great job, since we began the tour, we have seen and noted that most of the construction projects run by the Judiciary are of high standards and they indeed show value for money. I, therefore, argue the Judiciary of Tanzania to take care of these structures so as to help the public serve its purpose and become sustainable,” said Hon. Mwakasaka.
“The building is so attractive, such kind of welcoming environment can even cause some of the Judiciary’s customers, for example, they may be interested to even stay here, should also be taken as a challenge for the Minister of Home Affairs to construct presentable Prison facilities in the country,” he added.
The Judiciary of Tanzania is implementing a five years Strategic Plan (2020/2021 to 2024/2025). The strategic plan consists of three main pillars of which Pillar 3 lends itself to improving public trust and stakeholders’ engagement. To achieve the objective, the IJC buildings consist of Stakeholders’ offices such as Prison Offices, Lawyers’ Offices, breastfeeding rooms for nursing mothers, Legal Aid Providers, Social Welfare, waiting lounges and a Restaurant for staff and citizens.
Members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs posed for a group portrait after visiting one of the six Integrated Justice Centres (IJCs) Projects on March 18th, 2022 in Arusha. The Committee's Acting Chairman, Hon. Emmanuel Mwakasaka, is in the middle of the front line, while the Chief Court Administrator, Prof. Elisante Ole Gabriel, is posed on the second right.
The Chief Court Administrator, Prof. Elisante Ole Gabriel (middle) illustrating a point to Members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs when the said Committee visited one of the six Integrated Justice Centres (IJCs) Projects in Arusha.
The Acting Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs, Hon. Emmanuel Mwakasaka, addressed a meeting between the Judiciary team and the Committee following a site visit to the Integrated Justice Centre on March 18th, 2022 in Arusha.
Hon. Khadija Shaaban, A Member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs makes a point during a meeting held after the site tour.
Hon. Abdullah Mwinyi, a Member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Constitution and Legal Affairs, makes a point during a meeting conducted following the site inspection.
(Photos by Mary Gwera, Judiciary of Tanzania)
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