AfricaPress-Tanzania: THE government has admitted that the judiciary is facing a shortage of court buildings, which is one of the great challenges facing the corridors of justice, adding however that the government will continue building them, depending on the availability of funds.
In a written response to a question posed by Special Seats MP, Alfredina Kahigi (CUF), the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs said the judicial system was facing an acute shortage of office buildings throughout the country.
Ms Kahigi wanted to know when the government would establish district courts in Kyelwa and Missenyi districts in Kagera Region in efforts to save residents from travelling longer distances in search of justice in Karagwe District, Kagera Region.
She also wanted to know when the government would build court buildings in the two districts.
“Residents of the two districts are forced to seek services in the neighboring district, therefore I want to know when will the government bring the services close to them?” she asked.
In response, the ministry noted that lack of court buildings is one of the great challenges facing the judiciary in the country, adding that the government will continue building them, depending on availability of funds.
“Demand for court buildings in the country is so huge, and the judiciary has put in place measures to build them in phases, depending on availability of funds” said the ministry in the statement.
The ministry further explained that construction of court buildings in Kyelwa and Misenyi districts was among the 33 district court buildings earmarked to start soon, whereby lower courts will also be housed in the same building.
The envisaged construction is scheduled to start next month and will end in December 2020 through funding from the World Bank, said the government, adding that the judiciary is finalising procedures for the project to start as soon as possible.
According to the ministry, once of the project is completed, residents of the two districts and others in the country will access judiciary services as close as possible.
