Oliva Mkanzabi Malekia
Partner – Head of Employment & Labour Relations
oliva@breakthroughattorneys.com
Professional Affiliations
Tanganyika Law Society (TLS)
East Africa Law Society (EALS)
Education and Professional Credentials
Bachelor of Laws (LL.B, Hons.), University of Dar es Salaam
Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice, Law School of Tanzania
Advanced Professional Training in Negotiation Skills, ILO International Training Centre, Turin, Italy
Specialised Training in Employment and Labour Laws
Oliva is a seasoned Advocate with over 15 years of specialised experience in Employment and Labour Relations Law in Tanzania. She currently serves as the Head of Employment & Labour Relations at Breakthrough Attorneys, where she leads the firm’s employment law practice and advises a wide range of local and international clients operating in Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar.
Areas of Expertise
Employment & Labour Relations Law
Employment Litigation
Industrial Relations
Organizational Restructuring & Retrenchment Processes
Disciplinary Proceedings & Termination of Employment
Corporate Immigration
Collective Bargaining Agreements
HR Policies & Manuals
Performance Management & Statutory Compliance
Employment Law Due Diligence
Noteworthy Achievements
Her practice spans both advisory and contentious work, with strong expertise in employment litigation, industrial relations, organizational restructuring, retrenchment processes, disciplinary proceedings, termination of employment, and mutual separation arrangements. Oliva is highly experienced in conducting employment law due diligence, managing employees during business transfers, and advising on corporate immigration matters.
Client Representation: Oliva regularly represents clients before the Commission for Mediation and Arbitration (CMA), the High Court Labour Division, and the Court of Appeal of Tanzania. She manages a diverse client portfolio across multiple sectors including aviation, financial services, NGOs, education, advertising, hospitality, media, transportation, publishing, and telecommunications.
Previous Leadership Roles: Before joining Breakthrough Attorneys, Oliva held senior leadership roles at Gabriel & Co Attorneys (as Partner and Co-founder) and Talented Advocates (Partner). She also served as Senior Legal Officer & Advocate at the Association of Tanzania Employers (ATE), where she represented employers in trade union negotiations, provided disciplinary consultancy services, and advised on industrial relations matters at a national level.
Strategic Advisory: Oliva regularly drafts and negotiates collective bargaining agreements, develops HR policies and manuals, and provides strategic guidance on performance management and statutory compliance under Tanzanian labour laws. Her comprehensive approach ensures clients receive holistic solutions that address both immediate needs and long-term strategic objectives.
Beyond Legal Expertise
Oliva is fluent in English and Swahili and is deeply committed to mentorship, leadership development, and supporting young lawyers to excel in employment law practice.