Government Increases Budget for Mama Samia Legal Aid Campaign to Sh6 Billion

The government of Tanzania has significantly increased the budget for the Mama Samia Legal Aid campaign, from Sh2 billion to Sh6 billion, in an effort to provide legal assistance to a greater number of citizens in need. Launched in April last year by the Ministry of Constitution and Legal Affairs, the campaign has already expanded its reach to seven regions.

According to Mr. Mbaraka Stambuli, the ministry’s Policy and Planning Director, the campaign has revealed that the major disputes prompting people to seek legal aid are related to inheritance and land issues. To address this, the campaign has initiated public education campaigns encouraging individuals to proactively draft wills to prevent prolonged disputes within families.

Mr. Stambuli emphasized the importance of writing wills to avoid conflicts and inconveniences that may arise after the owner’s death. Additionally, he highlighted the issue of land disputes, noting that lack of education has resulted in many women losing their rights to own land. To address this, he advised women to consider jointly owning one title deed with their spouses to protect their rights.

Ms. Angellah Kairuki, the Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism and Chairperson of the National Advisory Committee on the Implementation of the Generation Equality Programme, urged the Ministry of Constitution and Legal Affairs to collaborate with her committee to address issues affecting women. She emphasized the importance of working together to achieve the goal of creating an equitable generation without leaving anyone behind.

The increased budget for the Mama Samia Legal Aid campaign reflects the government’s commitment to providing legal assistance to those in need and addressing key issues such as inheritance and land disputes. Through proactive measures and collaboration with relevant stakeholders, the campaign aims to empower citizens and promote justice and equality in Tanzania.