Search
Close this search box.

We are ZLSC

We are delighted to have you here!

The Zanzibar Legal Services Centre (ZLSC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free legal aid, advocating for human rights, and empowering communities in Zanzibar. Through legal support, education, and advocacy, ZLSC works to ensure access to justice for all individuals. The organization engages in policy reform, community outreach, and awareness campaigns to promote legal literacy and protect individual rights. Their mission is to foster a just and equitable society where everyone can exercise their legal rights effectively.

Things We Believe to be True?

Together, we can build a future founded on justice and equity for everyone in Zanzibar.

Justice for All

We are committed to ensuring that everyone has equitable access to legal resources and representation. Our dedication to justice means that every individual’s rights are upheld and protected

Community Empowerment

We believe in the power of education and empowerment. By fostering legal literacy and awareness, we enable communities to advocate for themselves and contribute to a fair and just society

Human Rights Advocacy

Our relentless advocacy for human rights drives our mission. We work tirelessly to promote and defend the rights of all individuals through policy reform and impactful campaigns

Tech Innovation

Embracing technology, we innovate to enhance our legal services and streamline processes. By leveraging the latest technological advancements, we improve access to justice, making it more efficient and accessible for everyone

CEO-Commitment to Uphold Justice

As the CEO of the Zanzibar Legal Services Centre (ZLSC), I am profoundly dedicated to ensuring that justice is accessible to all individuals within our community. Our organization stands firm in its belief that every person, regardless of their socio-economic background, deserves fair and equitable legal representation. This commitment drives us to continuously strive for excellence in providing free legal aid and advocating for the rights of those we serve.

We recognize the transformative power of education and empowerment in fostering a just society. By promoting legal literacy and community engagement, we aim to equip individuals with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the legal system and advocate for their rights. Our outreach programs and advocacy campaigns are designed to raise awareness, build resilience, and foster a culture of justice and equality.

Innovation is at the heart of our mission. Embracing the latest technological advancements, we are dedicated to enhancing our legal services and streamlining our processes to better serve our community. Through these efforts, we seek to make justice more efficient, effective, and accessible to all. Together, we will continue to uphold the principles of justice and equity, ensuring that these ideals are not just aspirations, but realities for everyone in Zanzibar.

Meet Our Board of Trustees

With their guidance and expertise, the Zanzibar Legal Services Centre (ZLSC) navigates the path toward ensuring accessible legal services and advocacy for all

Prof. Chris Maina Peter

Chairman-Board of Trustees

Dr. Yahya Khamis Hamad

Board Member of trustees

Hon.Lady Justice Khadija Shamte

Board Member of Trustees

Felista William Mauya

Chief Executive Director

Dr. Yahya Khamis Hamad

Dr. Yahya Khamis Hamad is a lawyer of long standing. He graduated with a
Bachalor of Laws (LL.B) from the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania before
proceeding to the University College London in the United Kingdom for this
Master Degree in Law (LL.M). He later studied for his doctorate in law at the
University of Dar es Salaam. Dr. Hamad has held many public offices at the level
of the United Republic and Zanzibar. He was the Clerk to the Zanzibar House of
Representatives; Secretary to the Constituent Assembly; and Member of the
Presidential Commission on Criminal Justice in Tanzania. He has also been the
President of the local Bar – the Zanzibar Law Society (ZLS). Dr. Hamad also
teaches law at Zanzibar University where he has been the Dean of the Faculty of
Law and Shariah and Director of Postgraduate Studies.

Prof:Chris Maina Peter

Chris Maina Peter is a Professor of Law Emeritus at the School of Law of the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He holds LLB and LLM from the University of Dar es Salaam and Dr Jur
from the University of Konstanz, Germany and a Diploma in Higher Education from the University of Kassel, Germany. Professor Peter is an Advocate of the High Court of Tanzania, Notary Public, and Commissioner for Oaths; Chair of the Board of Trustees of Zanzibar Legal Services Centre (ZLSC); Managing Editor of the Zanzibar Yearbook of Law (ZYBL); and was a member of the United Nations International Law Commission (ILC) – 2012-2022. He has
researched and published widely in the areas of constitutionalism, human rights, law of the sea, environmental law, and climate change.

HON. LADY JUSTICE KHADIJA SHAMTE MZEE

Lady Justice Khadija Shamte Mzee is a Puisne Judge of the High Court of
Zanzibar. Lady Justice Mzee studied law at the University of Dar es Salaam
before proceeding for her graduate studies at the University of Western Cape in
South Africa where she was awarded a LL.M degree. Justice Mzee has held
many distinguished positions in the public sector including Legal Advisor and
Counsellor, Zanzibar Legal Services Centre (ZLSC); Board Secretary and Chief
Counsel of the Zanzibar Revenue Board; Deputy Managing Director of the
People’s Bank of Zanzibar; and the Chair of the Zanzibar Law Review
Commission (ZLRC) before being appointed to join the Bench. Justice Mzee is a
prolific writer who has written extensively in local and foreign referred journals.

Felista William Mauya

Felista Mauya is a human rights lawyer and writer with more than 15 years of experience in the human rights field. Felista is a Chief Executive Officer of Zanzibar Legal Services Centre (ZLSC) She holds a Master of Laws (LL.M in International Laws) from Wuhan University, China, Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) and Bachelor of Academic Laws (BAL), both from Mysore University, India and Certificate in Corporate Governance from Eastern and Southern African Management Institute (ESAMI) and Certificate on Strategic Project Management and Good Practice from the Institute of Project Management in Tanzania. She is an Alumna of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) program cohort of 2022 an initiative by the US Government to support women around the world.

She possesses a vast professional experience in issues concerning human rights, gender, democracy, good governance, and in the interactions between human rights and business. She has performance competence in areas of advocacy, research, policy analysis, human rights monitoring, corporate governance, organizational development, project management, resource mobilization, fundraising, strategic planning, communication skills, alongside leadership and team building skills.

Felista’s great passion is in empowering women, youth, and people with disabilities to improve access to justice, economic development, and livelihood with a wholesome appreciation of socio- legal challenges and attitudes as well as in the modalities of dispute resolution for the betterment of the society. She is interested in bridging the gap among the communities through “learning by
doing motto”.

Book Your Appointment

So our team can reach out to you on time