Access to son denied 

My ex-girlfriend and I were blessed with a baby back then. Our son is still in the custody of his mother’s family. I have been sending money whenever needed for the upkeep of my son. However, strangely, that family has been denying me access to my son simply because I did not pay the dowry. I have tried all possible means but they have remained adamant with their decision. What does the law say about this? 

JM, Shinyanga

We are sorry to hear about your story. It should be noted that children and their affairs in Tanzania are governed by the law of the Child Act. The law strictly requires that whatever kind of decision made about a child, the attention should be paid to the best interests of the child. According to section 6(1) of the Law of the Child Act, it is in the best interest of the child to know their biological parents. As such, denying a father access to his son without any legal ground is as good as judging a child for the social wrongs done by the parents. It is already settled in Tanzania that a child should not be a victim of the nature of the relationship their parents had before the child was born. Hence, you have the right to see your child regardless of whether or not dowry was paid. Of course the other option would be to pay the dowry to avoid any confrontation. You can consult your lawyer for further guidance.