To ensure accurate results in criminal evidence requiring laboratory analysis, the collection, storage, transportation, and processing of samples must adhere to professional and technical standards.
Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police (SACP) Theopista Malya, Chief Staff Officer in the Scientific Commission, stressed this in Dodoma while addressing over 150 stakeholders in forensic science, including police officers, doctors, prosecutors, magistrates, officials from the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB), and social welfare officers.
The stakeholders were trained by experts from the Government Chemist Laboratory Authority (GCLA) Central Zone office on sample management. Malya emphasized that failure to handle samples correctly could result in injustices in various cases.
“Otherwise, if samples are mishandled, justice will not be served in many instances for Tanzanians,” she said.
She further noted that the Criminal Procedure Act and the Human DNA Law empower health professionals and police officers to collect and submit samples to the GCLA for laboratory analysis, which then informs various legal and administrative decisions.
“That’s why we have police officers, doctors, and other professionals here to build their capacity to work with expertise and follow investigative protocols, ultimately ensuring results that leave no room for doubt in decision-making,” Malya explained.
Gerald Mollel, Manager of the GCLA Central Zone, highlighted the critical importance of proper sample handling in achieving accurate results.
“If sample collection is done incorrectly, it is not easy to obtain accurate results, which means both suspects and complainants will not get the justice they deserve. Cases will also not be heard promptly or effectively, as required by the laws of the country,” he said.
Mollel added that the training aimed to teach stakeholders the best practices for sample collection, storage, transportation, and analysis to ensure justice is upheld in court.
“We decided to train them to understand the essential elements required in the collection, transportation, storage, and processing of samples to ensure the results are reliable and justice is served. The goal is to ensure forensic investigations are robust, safe, and accurate for the nation’s development,” he stated.
Paschal Marungu, Head of Prosecution in Dodoma, applauded the training and acknowledged its relevance to their work.
“Our office coordinates investigations, prepares cases, and prosecutes them in court. This training is valuable to investigators, prosecutors, and all those involved in the criminal justice process. Many cases, especially those involving murder, rape, or defilement, rely heavily on scientific evidence. This training will significantly help us ensure thorough investigations and credible evidence,” he said.
Senior Resident Magistrate Timothy Lyon from Mpwapwa District Court remarked on the significance of forensic results in judicial decisions, stating, “Samples will help us reach appropriate decisions in cases because we depend on evidence from both sides—the complainant and the defendant—which enables us to analyze the evidence fairly.”
Fidelis Bugoye, Manager of the Forensic Science Laboratory at GCLA, explained the critical role of DNA analysis in criminal justice and other societal challenges.
“Human DNA samples have become essential in specialized medical treatments, resolving societal disputes, and the criminal justice chain to achieve justice. Challenges arise when proper procedures are not followed, leading to delays in results and, consequently, in justice. That’s why we’ve been conducting training in various regions to remind these stakeholders of their responsibilities,” he said.
Bugoye also elaborated on the importance of understanding forensic results.
“Another key area we trained them on was how to interpret the results of investigations so that the technology and findings in human DNA analysis can benefit the nation,” he concluded.