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Let justice be seen to be done - Kikwete
2006-02-14 07:49:19
By Patrick Kisembo
Ministry of Constitutional Affairs and Justice officials have been directed to ensure that justice is given to all and sundry.
President Jakaya Kikwete gave the order yesterday at a meeting with ministry officials.
The meeting took place at the offices of the Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance.
’’It is not a question of doing justice in principle. People must see and acknowledge that justice is being done,’’ the President said.
He commended the officials for their good work but added: ’’Your ministry has been blamed for not being fair to all.’’
The President told the ministry staff and commissioners for Human Rights and Good Governance that poor people know that justice is available to the rich only.
’’We have to discuss whether these feelings are justified or baseless, but since people are complaining then there must be some element of truth in it,’’ the President said.
He told the staff that their duty is to make sure that when the poor appear in court they must be convinced that they have had a fair trial and justice has taken its course even if they lost.
He told the commissioners and other staff to look for a way of solving the problem of injustice.
He said the ministry should find a way of expediting cases, as there are many that are delayed without reason.
President Kikwete also talked about magistrates staying for too long at one duty station, saying the practice undermined professionalism.
’’We must transfer the officers who have overstayed at one duty station,’’ he noted.
He added: ’’I want a situation whereby, when a person goes to court seeking justice, it should be given instantly. When they lose let them say for sure justice was done.
When corruption is rampant, justice will never be done,’’ the President said.
The President was accompanied by Minister for Constitutional Affairs and Justice, Dr Mary Nagu, her deputy Mathias Chikawe, Permanent Secretary and Attorney General Johnson Mwanyika.
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