The Tanzania Prisons Service has said the introduction of the e-Court system has significantly helped suspects have their cases heard on time while also reducing operational costs for the government.
Commissioner for Administration and Human Resource Management in the Prisons Service, Ahmadi Said Mwen-Dadi, said the digital court system has reduced the need to transport suspects from prisons to courts, making the process more efficient and secure.
He explained that the system has improved security and lowered expenses that were previously incurred when moving detainees between prisons and courts.
“The e-Court system has helped improve security for inmates and suspects, reduced costs, and enabled suspects to have their cases heard on time,” said Commissioner Mwen-Dadi.
He made the remarks while closing a training programme and officiating the promotion ceremony of 422 prison officers who graduated and were promoted to the ranks of corporal and sergeant at the Kingolwira Prisons Training College in Morogoro.
According to the commissioner, the digital system has eased logistical challenges not only for the Prisons Service but also for the wider community, especially during the transportation of remand prisoners to court and their return to prison facilities.
He noted that the government continues to strengthen systems that improve the efficiency of the justice sector while maintaining safety and accountability within correctional facilities.
On the welfare of inmates, Commissioner Mwen-Dadi said each region is required to ensure it has sufficient food supplies to feed prisoners and remand inmates in their respective prisons.
He also added that all prisons across the country have now adopted clean energy solutions, a move aimed at protecting the environment and reducing reliance on traditional energy sources.
Speaking at the same event, Morogoro Regional Prisons Officer, Senior Assistant Commissioner Peter Anatory, said the region has made significant progress in food production within prison farms.
He said prisons in Morogoro are currently able to produce about 75 percent of the food required for inmates.
“Morogoro is performing well operationally. At the moment we are able to meet about 75 percent of our food needs, and this season we are working hard to reach 100 percent food self-sufficiency,” said Anatory.
