The government has announced plans to reform Tanzania’s prisons system to align it with global developments and the country’s democratic values, Minister for Home Affairs George Simbachawene has said.
Speaking in Dodoma on Monday after being sworn in as Chairperson of the Police Force, Prisons Service, and Fire and Rescue Commission, Mr Simbachawene said there was an urgent need to move away from colonial-era prison structures and laws and replace them with a modern system that reflects human rights principles and the country’s current socio-economic realities.
He said the government is reviewing several laws inherited from the colonial period, with the aim of improving the delivery of justice across the criminal justice system, including the Police Force and the Prisons Service.
“We must move away from colonial prisons and build republican prisons that reflect the values of a free people living in a democratic country that respects human rights,” Mr Simbachawene said.
“The world has changed, and our economy has grown. This reality demands changes in our laws, some of which are still colonial in nature. Reforming them is inevitable, and this process will involve all stakeholders within the justice and criminal justice chain.”he added
The commission he now chairs is mandated to advise the President on the execution of responsibilities entrusted to the Head of State under Article 36 of the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania, including matters related to appointments and staffing within the Police Force and the Prisons Service, as directed by the President.
Meanwhile, the Dodoma Zone Resident Judge, Dr Juliana Masabo, has welcomed the ongoing reforms within security institutions under the ministry, saying they have positively contributed to the administration of justice.
She noted that improvements, particularly within the Prisons Service, have enhanced efficiency and reduced delays in investigations and case handling.
“I acknowledge that there have been significant changes, especially in the prisons I have visited,” Dr Masabo said.
“The use of information and communication technology has enabled cases to be heard online, which has greatly improved the efficiency of court processes.”he added
She added that reforms have also strengthened the protection of human rights within prisons, resulting in improved dignity and treatment of suspects and remandees.
“There have been major improvements in the area of human rights in our prisons, ensuring better conditions and respect for the dignity of inmates,” she said.