Africa-Press – Tanzania. MINISTER for Home Affairs, George Simbachawene has said Legal Service Facility (LSF)’s 2022/2026 programme plan will help dispense justice and create a better environment for women to contribute in economic development.
Speaking during the 10th anniversary of the LSF in Dar es Salaam recently, Mr Simbachawene noted that the fiveyear plan would provide the vision and direction of the organisation, aimed at assisting people at the grassroots realise their economic and legal rights.
“It will facilitate the accessibility of quality legal aid services to the marginalised communities in particular women in both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar,” he added.
Equally, the minister said it will identify priorities necessary to adopt in dispensing justice and also enhance a conducive environment that improves institutional development and sustainability of the legal aid sector, all aimed at improving the lives of women and their families.
“I commend the LSF for launching a new five-year strategic plan 2022/2026, which aims at working closely with government and stakeholders to improve policies, laws, and create a better and enabling environment for communities, especially women to do business,” he added.
Describing how the government was initially providing legal aid services to suspects charged with serious offenses such as murder, involuntary manslaughter and treason, he praised the NGO for offering to educate Tanzanians on the laws of the land.
“Various Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have been providing some legal services to the citizens, including legal advice and representation in court… this work has come to the rescue of several Tanzanians,” he pointed out.
For her part, LSF Chief Executive Officer, Lulu Ng’wanakilala said the Strategic Plan 2022 to 2026 aims to work closely with government’s various institutions in improving policies, laws and creating a better and enabling environment for communities, especially women and children to access legal aid services.
Commenting, LSF Board Chairman Bengi Issa said for the past decade, they have been implementing various programmes to help women have access to legal aid.
“Tanzanians have been able to get legal aid easily without having to go to court and spend money,” he said. Presiding over, Malinyi District Legal Aid Agency Director, Rashid Kiding’a, said; “I urge the government to look at us as a third party legal aid because we are working hard in a very difficult environment trying to see into it that Tanzanians are conversant with the legal processes.
The representative of the Danish Development Agency – DANIDA, Mette Bech Pilgaard said for the past ten years, the LSF has been implementing a major program that affects ordinary citizens, a situation that has made them great facilitators throughout its ten years.
Over the past 10 years the LSF has provided grants to more than 200 legal aid providers and legal assistants in mainland Tanzania and the Islands.
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