WELCOMING REMARKS
Law Reform Commission of Tanzania is delighted, and indeed honoured to welcome you all to its website. In this site you will be able to find out all that you may wish to know about the Commission.
Law Reform Commission of Tanzania traces its inspirational background to the landmark Judicial System Review Commission now nostalgically referred to as the Msekwa Commission. In its report filed in 1977, the Msekwa Commission underscored the need for on the need to keep the laws of Tanzania constantly attuned to the changing Tanzanian society. No law, Msekwa Commission pointed out, which is not constantly nourished with new ideas, can be an effective instrument for revolutionary change in any society. Such a law will sooner than later become a mere irrelevance to society.Law Reform Commission of Tanzania Act number 11 of 1980 concretised recommendations of Msekwa Commission and established Law Reform Commission as a law reform agency with wide ranging responsibilities that include to:
- reform laws of Tanzania so as to bring them to fit changing socio-economic circumstances and aspirations of people of Tanzania;
- undertake studies and propose reform of the philosophy underlying the various laws;
- recommend new laws, statutory institutions that give new dimensions to the existing law, and
- propose new laws, new principles, new remedies, new machinery and to meet the challenges of law as Tanzanian society strive to meet the expectations of every citizen.
The Commission was established under the Law Reform Commission of Tanzania Act number 11 of 1980. It took two years of hard work under the able Chairmanship of the late Justice Yona Mwakasendo to physically bring the Commission into operation in October 1983. Hon. Mwakasendo chaired the Commission from 20 October 1983 to 17th January 1984. Other most distinguished Tanzanians who served time as Chairmen of Law Reform Commission include:
- Hon. Justice Damian Lubuva- from 14 June 1984 to 1985. Justice Lubuva is now a distinguished Justice of the Court of Appeal of Tanzania;
- Hon. Justice (rtd) Hamisi Msumi- from 1986 to 5th November 1990. Justice Msumi went to become the Principal Judge of the High Court. He is now representing Tanzania as in Saudi Arabia as an Ambassador;
- Hon. Justice (rtd) Raymond Mwaikasu- from 15 April 1991 to 1995;
- Hon. Justice (rtd) Anthony Bahati- from 1995 to 2006;
- Hon. Judge Ibrahim H. Juma- from 29 March 2007 todate.
Secretary of the Commission is the chief executive officer responsible to the Commission for the day to day operations and the management of the records of the Commission. Several distinguished public officers have served as Commission Secretary during the past twenty five years:
- Mr. Nathaniel Issa- from 1 August 1984 to 7 November, 1990;
- Hon. Justice (rtd) Stephen E.N. Ihema- from 8 November 1990 to 2 March 1999. Hon. Ihema is now Ethics Commissioner under the Public Leadership Code of Ethics Act [CAP 398 R.E. 2002];
- Hon. Justice Bethuel M.K. Mmilla- from 20th June 2000 to 4th June 2002. Hon. Mmilla is a Judge of the High Court of Tanzania;
- Hon. Lady Justice Mary S. Shangali- from 13 February 2003 to 7 October 2003. Hon. Shangali is a Judge of the High Court of Tanzania;
- Hon. Mathias M. Chikawe- from October 2003 to 2005. Hon. Chikawe is now the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs;
- Ms. Crescencia W. Makuru - from October 2006 to 2008 Hon Makuru is now the Judge of high court
- Mr. Japhet Sagasii-is the current Executive Secretary from December 2008 todate .
Law, the subject matter of reform touches all aspects of life and livelihood. Reform of the law must of necessity involve more than the Law Reform Commission. In this day and age of monumental national, regional and global changes reflected in international treaties and agreements, Law Reform Commission alone cannot single handedly undertake reform activities without close expertise and cooperation from other sectors and from an informed public opinion. Law Reform Commission will strive to cultivate and nurture a close working relationship with all the three branches of State power. The Commission will assist to inform the public who in return will provide the Commission with suggestions of areas requiring law reform.
To cultivate an informed public opinion, Law Reform Commission will make available to the general public important documents that influence or otherwise informs the executive, legislative and judicial activities taking place in Tanzania. You will find on this website the following documents which inform the law reform process:
- Treaties and Conventions that United Republic of Tanzania has so far ratified;
- Updated Index of the Laws of Tanzania;
- List of all Subsidiary Legislation;
- Judgments and legal principles discussed by the Court of Appeal of Tanzania;
- Reports and Position Papers on Law Reform; and
- Laws of East African Community.
Law Reform Commission of Tanzania hopes this site will be a useful to all and a ready source of ideas and suggestions on law reform. |
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