1. The Regional Administration Act, 1997.
Section 5(1) and (3) provides;
"The Regional Commissioner shall, be the principal representative of the Government within the area of the region for which he is appointed and for that purpose all the executive functions of Government in relation to that region shall be exercised by or through the Regional Commissioner"
"For the purposes of this section, it shall be the duty of the Regional Commissioner to facilitate and assist the local government authorities in the region to undertake and discharge their responsibilities by providing and securing the enabling environment for successful performance by them of their duties and functions"
2. The Ward Tribunals Act, 1985.
Section 3 provides;
"There is hereby established a tribunal for every ward in Mainland Tanzania to be known as the Ward Tribunal for the Ward for which it is established"
Section 5(1) provides;
"No person shall be entitled to be nominated as a member of the Tribunal if he is- (d) a legally qualified person or any person who is employed in the judiciary"
Section 7 provides;
"The appropriate authority in respect of the Tribunal shall be responsible for the general policy regarding the operation of the Tribunal and shall ensure, facilitate and promote the smooth and effectual performance by the Tribunal of its functions"
Section 2 provides;
"Appropriate Authority means the district council or the urban authority within whose area the Tribunal is established"
Je Mabaraza ya Kata yanasimamiwa na nani?
Kwa mujibu wa Sheria ya Ward Tribunals Act, 1985 chombo ambacho kinasimamia Mabaraza hayo ni Halmashauri za Wilaya au Mamlaka za Miji za maeneo yalipoanzishwa. Mahakama sio msimamizi wa moja kwa moja wa mabaraza haya!!
Je Wanasheria wana nafasi gani kwenye Mabaraza haya?
Sheria inakataza mtu yeyote ambaye ni mtaalamu wa sheria au ameajiriwa Mahakamani (judiciary) kuteuliwa kuwa mjumbe wa Baraza la Kata.
Vile vile mlalamikaji au mlalamikiwa hawezi kuwakilishwa na mwanasheria kwenye shauri lolote mbele ya Baraza la Kata.
Je ni mashauri gani yanaweza kusikilizwa na Mabaraza ya Kata?
Mabaraza ya Kata yanaweza kusikiliza mashauri madogo madogo ya madai na jinai lengo KUU ikiwa ni KUSULUHISHA na kuleta amani na maelewano kwenye eneo husika. Kwa malalamiko ya ardhi kiwango cha juu cha thamani ya ardhi au madai ni milioni 3 tu.
Je Mkuu wa Mkoa ana mamlaka kutoa maelekezo kwa Mabaraza ya Kata ndani ya Mkoa wake?
Ndio. Wajibu wa Mkuu wa Mkoa ni kusaidia na kuwezesha Halmashauri za Wilaya na Mamlaka ya Miji kutekeleza majukumu yao. Mojawapo ya majukumu hayo ni kusimamia Mabaraza ya Kata. Endapo kuna ulegelege katika hilo Mkuu wa Mkoa anaweza kutoa maelekezo.
Kama sheria inavyotamka usimamizi wa Mabaraza ya Kata upo chini ya Halmashauri na Mamlaka za Miji. Pia Waziri wa Sheria anaweza kutoa maelekezo kwa mamlaka hizo kuhusu uendeshaji wa Mabaraza hayo.
Angalizo:
Ni wajibu wa Mkuu wa Mkoa kuhakikisha kwamba anashirikiana kikamilifu na mamlaka zote zinazohusika na uendeshaji wa Mabaraza. Anapotoa maelekezo kwa kuangalia kiasi cha malalamiko au ukiukaji wa wazi wazi wa sheria ni vyema maelekezo hayo yakapitia ngazi husika.
Ila itakuwa jambo la ajabu kwa Mkuu wa Mkoa kukaa kimya na kuacha Mabaraza ya Kata yaendelee kusikiliza mashauri ya ardhi ambayo thamani yake ni zaidi ya milioni 3 asubiri 'appropriate authorities' zichukue hatua.
Ni muda sasa kuzipitia sheria zetu na kuona zinavyotumika kutoa haki na vile vile kuwezesha vyombo vya kikatiba vya kutoa haki (Mahakama) kuweza kutimiza wajibu huo ipasavyo.
UAMUZI MGUMU SIO LAZIMA UWE SAHIHI KWA TAFSIRI YA MTU MMOJA MMOJA!
Malalamiko ya wananchi kuhusu ardhi ni mengi. Maamuzi ya hovyo ya Mabaraza ya Kata rufaa zake zimejaa kwenye Mabaraza ya Ardhi ya Wilaya na Mahakama Kuu.
