By Erick Mukiza, Executive Director, ESS Creative and Legal Foundation
Background
Family disputes are among the most common cases in Tanzania’s justice system, often escalating from homes and communities into courts of law. To address this challenge, on 27th and 28th of August 2025 at the office of the Ministry of Home Affairs in Dar es Salaam, the Ministry of Constitutional and Legal Affairs convened a working session bringing together senior officials from the President's Office, Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women, Elderly, Children and Special Groups, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Office of the Attorney General, Academic Institutions, and ESS Creative and Legal Foundation. It was chaired by Ms. Consesa Kahendaguza, Assistant Director of the ADR Unit at the Ministry of Constitutional and Legal Affairs. The objective was to review the effectiveness of Marriage Conciliation Boards and explore ways of strengthening Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) at the community level.
Key Highlights from the Meeting
Participants agreed that empowering members of Marriage Conciliation Boards with practical reconciliation skills, conflict analysis, and problem-solving skills is essential for improving their effectiveness.
A strong emphasis was placed on cross-institutional collaboration, where the President's Office, Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), the Ministry of Community Development, Gender and Children, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Office of the Attorney General, Academic Institutions, and ESS Creative and Legal Foundation will work together with the Ministry of Constitutional and Legal Affairs to address the root causes of family conflicts.
The role of community leaders and accredited mediators was highlighted as a bridge between families in conflict and formal justice institutions.
Personal Reflection
As an ADR Policy Expert and Accredited Mediator, I was honored to represent ADR practitioners in this national forum. My inclusion as a private sector expert reflects the government’s commitment to implementing the Public-Private Partnership Policy in a practical way.
I also deeply appreciated the insights shared by the various stakeholders present. Each contribution was significant, reflecting our shared commitment to strengthening the Marriage Conciliation Boards and ensuring families receive effective, accessible, and community-centered dispute resolution.
