A DAR ES SALAAM-based legal aid organisation is set to host a long-distance marathon to raise funds to support the provision of legal assistance to marginalised detainees and remanded inmates.

Addressing reporters in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Shehzada Walli, Utu Kwanza chairman said that the charity race will take place on October 6, this year.

The marathon will cover a distance of 60 kilometers, beginning in Bagamoyo town, Coast Region, and concluding in Dar es Salaam city.

“This will be the longest race organized by our firm to date, aimed at supporting those who need bail before they face remand or the fifteen-day expiration period,” Walli said.

He said Utu Kwanza’s legal aid desk operates with a legal empowerment approach, focusing on providing detainees and remanded inmates with essential legal information and education. 

The firm’s goal is to reduce unnecessary remand and improve legal awareness and empowerment among marginalized communities.

“The firm’s lawyers are actively working to raise awareness and encourage participation in the marathon. Interested individuals can register through the firm’s partner, Selcom Company,” he said.

Since its inception in 2018, Utu Kwanza has assisted over 150 marginalised inmates in Kinondoni District, Dar es Salaam, who faced various criminal charges. The organization aims to raise nearly $100,000 by December 2024 to expand its legal aid desk services to the Primary Court of Kariakoo, the Resident Magistrate Court at Kisutu, and the District Court at Ilala by the end of this year.

Shumbana Walwa, head of the market department at Selcom Company, noted that her organisation is handling the registration process for the marathon and managing payments from participants.

The registration fee is 35,000/- per person and so far, about 20 participants have registered out of a targeted 50 from Dar es Salaam.

Utu Kwanza is dedicated to preserving human dignity and self-respect by supporting both convicted and remanded inmates and their families. The organisation also focuses on aiding disadvantaged communities in Tanzania, including children, youth, women, and the elderly who struggle with poverty.

The firm is committed to treating the community with respect and addressing their needs while upholding legal standards.