Mwinyi pledges to work on criminal justice report

ZANZIBAR: THE commission formed to investigate performance of criminal justice institutions in the country presented its report to the Zanzibar President Dr Hussein Mwinyi over the weekend.

Commission Chairman, retired Chief Justice Mohammed Chande Othman and his Vice-Chairman Ambassador Ombeni Sefue presented the commission’s report to the president.

The commission had in July presented its report to President Samia Suluhu Hassan, highlighting key findings including major weaknesses in the entire system of criminal justice dispensation.

Upon receiving the report at the State House here, Dr Mwinyi pledged to work on recommendations made by the commission after providing a spotlight on improvement in a bid to achieve justice effectively.

Dr Mwinyi thanked the committee, saying the government welcomed the recommendations that aim to bring changes and reforms in the interest of justice in the country.

He said the implementation of the recommendations after proper analysis is largely in line with the interdependence of all criminal justice institutions in the mainland and Zanzibar.

Dr Mwinyi insisted that there should be a fair exchange of knowledge and experience and close cooperation among the Zanzibar and mainland institutions responsible for justice.

Earlier, retired Chief Justice Chande informed Dr Mwinyi that the major weaknesses were discovered   in the areas of detecting and preventing crimes, arresting and taking the suspects to police stations.

Other areas with weaknesses include criminal investigation, filing charges, hearing criminal proceedings in court, deciding whether to order the convicts to serve prison terms or to give an alternative punishment and the lives of prisoners who have completed their jail terms and their reintegration to the society.

The institutions probed by the Commission include the Police Force, National Prosecution Services (NPS), Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB), Tanzania Prisons Service and Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA).