In a major step towards promoting the use of Kiswahili in the legal system, the Office of the Chief Parliamentary Draftsman has completed the translation of all 446 principal laws of Tanzania into Kiswahili.
The milestone was announced by Chief Parliamentary Draftsman Onorius Njole during a meeting with a task force of leading Kiswahili and legal experts convened in Mwanza.
The team has been brought together to develop official guidelines for legal translation.
“Tanzania has 446 principal laws, which were originally written in English. Following the government’s directive for courts to adopt Kiswahili in legal proceedings and judgments, we undertook the challenging task of translating all these laws. We are pleased to announce that this work has now been completed,” said Njole.
He added that having completed the drafts, the next step is to ensure consistency and clarity through a standardized translation guideline.
“These guidelines will help us review the drafts to ensure uniformity and eliminate contradictions before they are formally adopted,” he explained.
Njole also noted that following the completion of the 2023 law revision exercise and translation work, the goal is now to publish the revised edition in Kiswahili, based on the official guidelines, by the start of the next financial year.
“In the past, legal translations were done without a clear reference framework, which often resulted in inconsistencies. With this new guideline, we aim to standardize translations and improve the quality of legal writing in Kiswahili,” he said.
He emphasized the importance of the guideline in resolving translation disputes, stating that it will serve as a reference point in cases of ambiguity, unlike the current situation where interpretations rely heavily on personal understanding—potentially leading to legal misinterpretations and confusion.
Njole recalled that the late President Dr. John Pombe Magufuli, during a parliamentary address, strongly advocated for the use of Kiswahili in lawmaking to enhance public understanding of legal matters.
In line with that vision, in 2021, the Parliament of the United Republic of Tanzania passed amendments to the Interpretation of Laws Act.
Among other provisions, the amendments declared Kiswahili as the official language for drafting laws and conducting legal proceedings in the country.
