DEPUTY Prime Minister Dr Doto Biteko has urged members of the Tanganyika Law Society (TLS) to elect leaders who are ready to advance justice and peace, to unite the profession rather than divide them.

Opening the TLS general meeting in Dodoma yesterday, he also called on them to elect leaders who will uphold the respectful aura of the legal profession in the community as opposed to cultivating personal fame. 

The meeting will elect the society's leaders, including the president and vice president, where the DPM urged those who will be elected to work on uniting members and support those who are unsuccessful in election bids.

He asked the lawyers to use their networks to educate the public about the importance of civic polls and the general election, on the premise that it should be free, with every party promoting its policies and building unity among Tanzanians. 

“In doing this, you will assist the government and the nation in selecting good leaders chosen on merit, not for reasons that do not lead to good leadership,” he declared.

He responded to complaints by the TLS president Harold Sungusia that lawyers are at times being arrested while performing their duties, where the DPM instructed Dr Pindi Chana, the Constitutional and Legal Affairs minister, to take up the matter and resolve it”

“Our country is governed by the rule of law, and I believe that, in addition to hearing and addressing it, when we meet next year, this should not be a recurring challenge. We should have found answers,” he told the gathering.

He cautioned on expectations by TLS leaders on the sort of feedback they present to the government on draft legal documents, noting that the government can take TLS’s feedback and leave out others.

“It does not mean it has been ignored but indicates that engagement has occurred,” he said, asking the minister to ensure that every matter brought forward for feedback especially from TLS since they handle the law drafts regularly, is given sufficient time to be read and considered.

The TLS president expressed gratitude for amendments to the Lawyers Act, Chapter 341 of the laws of Tanzania, adding sections 41 and 42which has increased penalties for dealing with "scoundrels."

He was glad about altering the 12-month prison term, now extended to three years for anyone pretending to be a lawyer or performing legal duties without authorization.

“With the increased fine from 2,000/- to 20m/-, we see significant changes,” he said, projecting that enforcing this law will sideline those lacking ethics who deceive and defraud the public by pretending to be lawyers.

TLS has been educating the public about demands for a new constitution, emphasizing the need for a broad national discussion on how the country can advance constitutional education as it seeks a new constitution.

The minister stated that the government has established a center to provide free legal aid to the public and has instructed local government authorities to list institutions providing free legal assistance for proper recognition by the government.