ARUSHA: PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan yesterday said Tanzania has a strong record of upholding human rights, with the country’s commitment firmly anchored in constitutional reforms, legislation as well as regional and international legal instruments.
The Head of State made the remarks, while opening the Annual General Meeting of the Tanzania Public Bar Association (TPBA), held under the theme: “Justice, Responsibility and the Rule of Law are the Foundation for the Implementation of the National Development Vision 2050.”
The Head of State made the remarks while responding to what she described as a growing narrative portraying African governments as violators of human rights.
“There is a growing narrative aimed at convincing young people, particularly in Africa, that their governments do not respect or are violating human rights. I would like to remind the international community and Tanzanians that, as far as Tanzania is concerned, we have a strong record of upholding human rights,” the President said.
She recalled that in 1984, the government amended the country’s Constitution and, for the first time, incorporated a comprehensive Bill of Rights, thereby, expanding the scope of human rights protections.
Dr Samia said in addition to those constitutional reforms, the country enacted numerous laws to safeguard human rights and strengthen their enforcement.
“We have also provided our citizens with broad access to the justice system whenever they believe their rights have been violated, enabling them to seek justice and defend their rights through legal processes,” Dr Samia said.
She further said that as member of the African community, Tanzania signed and ratified the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and also signed and ratified the protocol establishing the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
“Therefore, we are fully aware of our commitment to human rights. Despite the allegations that continue to be made, we know where we stand, and the international community also recognises Tanzania’s long-standing efforts and achievements in promoting and protecting human rights,” President Samia said.
She maintained that Tanzania will continue to uphold human rights in accordance with its Constitution, national laws and international obligations while ensuring citizens continue to enjoy legal protection and access to justice.
The President said governments have a duty to protect their citizens economically, politically and socially through policies and laws that promote economic growth, free and fair elections, investment, productivity and national development.
She urged state attorneys and legal officers to closely monitor international treaties, declarations and protocols, assess their implications for Tanzania and provide timely legal advice to safeguard the country’s sovereignty, economy and development.
According to President Samia, the role of state attorneys goes beyond representing the government in court to preventing disputes, protecting public resources, safeguarding government contracts, interpreting laws and offering professional legal advice in the national interest.
She called on them to serve with patriotism, integrity and honesty.
“I told you in 2022 that you are guardians of the nation’s resources through your pen and the law. That is why today you proudly call yourselves ‘soldiers of the pen.’ When used wisely, a lawyer’s pen can prevent losses before they occur, protect contracts from becoming burdens on the government and help the government make sound decisions that benefit the nation,” she said.
President Samia commended TPBA for its growth since its launch in September 2022, noting that membership has increased from about 2,200 to nearly 5,000.
She said the government will continue improving the working environment for state attorneys through capacity building and better infrastructure. She revealed that some of the Association’s requests, including land for its headquarters in Dodoma and office space in the Attorney General’s building in Dar es Salaam, are already being addressed.
On funding, the President said although this year’s national budget has already been approved, the government will consider the Association’s request for a 5bn/- allocation in the next financial year. She added that the Association will begin this financial year with the 1bn/- already allocated.
She also commended the Office of the Attorney General for strengthening contract management, reviewing and translating laws, expanding legal aid services and promoting public legal awareness.
The President further directed the responsible minister to strengthen legal units across government institutions through additional training, staffing and financial support to enable them to identify legal risks early in contracts, procurement, land administration, development projects and public service delivery.
Warning against emerging global challenges, she said powerful nations often use various strategies to advance their interests, making it essential for Tanzania to remain vigilant in scrutinising international agreements and global trends.
“Tanzania belongs to us. If it remains strong, it is our nation. If it is weakened, it is still our nation. There are people who may help destroy it, but they will never come to rebuild it for us. Therefore, every one of us has a duty to protect our country,” she said.
Minister for Constitution and Legal Affairs, Dr Juma Homera, said the government has expanded the legal service from a single cadre to 11 specialised cadres, including state attorneys, legislative drafters and legal officers.
Attorney General Hamza Johari said the book Mama Samia Doctrine of Law examines the contribution of legal reforms to national development and the implementation of Development Vision 2050.
Solicitor General Dr Ally Possi said his office saved the government about 1.35tri/- by successfully defending civil claims between July 2025 and April 2026.
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The Office of the Chief Parliamentary Draftsman announced that translation of all 446 laws into Kiswahili has been completed and the documents are undergoing final editing before approval.
Meanwhile, the Samia Legal Aid Campaign reported that it reached more than four million people across Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar between 2023 and June 2025, handled about 26,000 legal matters and successfully.