Strengthening Access to Justice through the Mama Samia Legal Aid Campaign (MSLAC) – Phase II

As part of ongoing efforts to enhance access to justice for citizens, WiLDAF Tanzania, in collaboration with the Ministry of Constitutional and Legal Affairs, participated in the second phase of the Mama Samia Legal Aid Campaign (MSLAC) in Kishapu District, Shinyanga Region.

The campaign was implemented from 6–20 May 2026 and successfully reached 28 wards and 36 villages. Through the campaign, community members received legal education and legal aid services on a range of issues, including land disputes, marriage and divorce, wills, inheritance, child maintenance, and gender-based violence. In addition, alternative dispute resolution services and legal document drafting support were provided to beneficiaries.

A total of 54,869 citizens were reached through legal awareness and education activities, including 27,569 men and 27,300 women.

Among the key achievements of the campaign were increased public awareness of laws, human rights, and principles of good governance; strengthened use of mediation and reconciliation in resolving disputes; and the successful resolution of various family, land, inheritance, and child maintenance disputes. Notably, 44 disputes were resolved on the spot during the campaign.

Despite these achievements, the campaign also identified persistent challenges affecting communities, including patriarchal norms that limit women’s participation in decision-making and community activities, ongoing child maintenance and marital disputes, teenage pregnancies, and limited awareness of inheritance rights and will-writing processes.

WiLDAF Tanzania remains committed to working with government institutions and other stakeholders to ensure that citizens have access to accurate legal information, quality legal aid services, and equal opportunities to realize their rights without discrimination.