DODOMA: THE second phase of the Mama Samia Legal Aid Campaign will be launched in Zanzibar tomorrow ,June 20, 2026 in Zanzibar , with the government promising to take legal services closer to citizens and tackle a
wide range of challenges including land disputes, inheritance conflicts, labour grievances and
gender-based violence.
Minister for Constitution and Legal Affairs, Dr Juma Homera, said the expanded campaign seeks to
strengthen access to justice by reaching communities at grassroots level and providing legal
assistance to citizens who face difficulties obtaining legal services.
Speaking to journalists in Dodoma on Wednesday, Dr Homera said all preparations for the
national launch of the second phase have been completed, with President Samia Suluhu
Hassan expected to officiate at the event scheduled to take place at Dole Grounds in Unguja.
He said the campaign reflects the success of cooperation between the Government of the
United Republic of Tanzania and the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar in ensuring legal
services are accessible to citizens on both sides of the Union.
“The Mama Samia Legal Aid Campaign is one of the clear examples of the benefits of our
Union. Through close cooperation, our governments have continued to combine resources,
expertise and institutions to ensure legal and justice services reach wananchi more effectively,”
Mr Homera said.
He said Zanzibar President Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi, senior government leaders, members of
Parliament, members of the House of Representatives, religious leaders, legal practitioners and
development partners are expected to attend the launch, which is projected to attract about
15,000 participants.
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The campaign is being implemented under the theme: “Legal Aid for Justice, Equality, Peace
and Development.”
Mr Homera said the theme reflects the government's commitment to ensuring equal access to
justice, strengthening peace and promoting national development through improved legal
awareness and dispute resolution.
He said that the first phase of the campaign, implemented between April 2023 and June 2025,
covered all 31 regions of Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar and enabled millions of citizens to
access legal education, legal advice, mediation services and other forms of legal assistance.
In Zanzibar alone, the campaign reached 422,908 beneficiaries, including 213,723 men and
209,185 women across Unguja and Pemba.
“The first phase was just a glimpse of what the campaign could achieve. This second phase is
bigger and more comprehensive as we move to address legal challenges facing citizens in
every corner of the country,” he said.
According to Dr Homera, the second phase aims to reach even more citizens and deepen legal
service delivery at community level by expanding coverage to wards, villages and shehias.
He said people will receive legal education and assistance on issues ranging from marriage and
divorce, inheritance and wills, land disputes, children's rights, labour rights and gender-based
violence to alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
The campaign will also provide support on matters related to civil registration and access to
essential identification documents.
Dr Homera said legal experts from various government institutions and partner organisations
will be deployed to assist citizens in resolving disputes and understanding their legal rights and
obligations.
He noted that the initiative is particularly important for vulnerable groups and residents of
remote areas where access to legal services remains limited.
As part of the Zanzibar programme, legal aid services will be offered through dedicated centres
in Urban, West A and West B districts, while teams of legal experts will visit shehias to provide
legal education, mediation services, preparation of legal documents and other assistance.
The teams will include officials from the President’s Office responsible for Constitutional Affairs,
Public Service and Good Governance, the Land Commission, the Zanzibar Police Force, the
Civil Registration Agency, members of the Zanzibar Law Society and accredited legal aid
providers.
Dr Homera said the government remains committed to ensuring that no citizen is denied justice
because of geographical location, lack of legal knowledge or financial constraints.
“We want citizens to know their rights, understand their responsibilities and access justice
services wherever they are. That is the core objective of this campaign,” he said.