By Alfred Zacharia
The government has saved over TZS 2.9 trillion in taxpayers’ money within the past year after successfully defending civil and arbitration cases involving public institutions.
This was unveiled by Solicitor General Dr. Ally Possi during the opening of a national training program for more than 600 government legal counsels and attorneys in Arusha.
The training was officiated by the Minister for Constitution and Legal Affairs, Dr. Damas Ndumbaro.
Dr. Possi said the civil case victories were secured between July 2024 and May 2025 in cases filed against ministries, departments, agencies, public corporations, and local government authorities.
He explained that the saved amount would have otherwise posed a heavy burden on the national budget if the government had lost the cases.
According to him, this outcome reflects not only lawsuit success but also the effective safeguarding of public resources.
Among the notable cases was a claim exceeding $151.5 million (approximately Sh381.7 billion), which was dismissed by the High Court of Tanzania.
Others included M.A. Kharafi & Sons Limited vs Ministry of Health and Attorney General, as well as Tanzania Ports Authority & Attorney General vs JV Tangerm Construction Co. Ltd.
Dr. Possi also disclosed that during the 2024 local government elections, 70 election-related petitions were filed, out of which the Office of the Solicitor General won 69 cases, representing a 98.2 percent success rate.
The victories, he noted, reaffirm the growing capability of government legal teams to defend national interests effectively.
The training, taking place over three days, is designed to enhance the legal preparedness of government lawyers in line with the country’s Vision 2050.
It focuses on areas such as legal risk management in infrastructure projects, the integration of digital technology in legal processes, ethical leadership, dispute resolution, and financial claims management.
Speaking at the event, Dr Ndumbaro launched two technological tools: a Case Information Management System (CMS) and a Digital Library Portal.
He said the initiatives aim to boost efficiency and promote digital transformation in legal work within public institutions. He stressed the importance of equipping public lawyers not just with knowledge but with practical tools to meet the demands of modern legal practice.
Participants include legal representatives from the Judiciary, Parliament, Attorney General’s Chambers, and various government institutions.
The event underscores the government’s intention to continue strengthening legal frameworks and institutional capacities that ensure the prudent management of public resources.
