26 June 2026
Dodoma, Tanzania
THE TANZANIAN MINISTER'S PROCLAMATION TO BAN ALL POLITICAL RALLIES IN TANZANIA VIOLATED THE CONSTITUTION
Tanganyika Law Society TLS in Tanzania plans to take legal action locally and internationally against anyone who implements the order.
26 June 2026 DODOMA Tanzanian Government Bans Political Parties' Meetings, Issues Statement on Protests, IGP Given Instructions
Tanganyika Law Society honorable president, Mr. Boniface Mwambukusi, said the Minister's announcement violates the Tanzanian Constitution. The current ban comes at a time when there is a movement gathering momentum on social media for Gen-Z to come out and protest on July 7, 2026.
Reference available online
Emergency Powers Act
Tanzania
Emergency Powers Act
Chapter 221
- Published in Tanzania Government Gazette
- Commenced on 1 January 2000
- [This is the version of this document at 31 December 2023.]
- [Note: This legislation was revised and consolidated as at 31 July 2002 and 30 November 2019 by the Attorney General's Office, in compliance with the Laws Revision Act No. 7 of 1994, the Revised Laws and Annual Revision Act (Chapter 356 (R.L.)), and the Interpretation of Laws and General Clauses Act No. 30 of 1972. All subsequent amendments have been researched and applied by Laws.Africa for TANZLII.]
[GN. No. 38 of 2000; Acts Nos. 1 of 1986; 12 of 1998]An Act to make better provisions which provide for and confer certain emergency powers upon the President for the purpose of ensuring public safety and maintenance of public order during emergencies and for connected matters.WHEREAS Article 32 of
the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania provides,
inter alia, that the President may, subject to an Act of Parliament, proclaim the existence of a state of emergency in the United Republic or in any part of it;AND WHEREAS it is recognised that situations may arise within or outside the United Republic which, by reason of their potential threat to the security, peace and good order of the United Republic, may necessitate the exercise of emergency powers by the President;AND WHEREAS it is meant that there be provided limits and adequate safeguards in relation to the exercise of emergency powers;NOW THEREFORE, be it enacted by the Parliament of the United Republic as follows
Part I – Preliminary provisions
1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Emergency Powers Act.
2. Application
This Act shall apply to Tanzania Zanzibar as well as to Mainland Tanzania.
3. Interpretation
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—“Code” means
the Penal Code;[Cap. 16]“
Constitution” means
the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania of 1977;[Cap. 2]“emergency” includes war, invasion, insurrection real or apprehended or a breakdown of public order, which in the opinion of the President is a threat to the security of the United Republic, or a riot or other disaster or a natural calamity within the United Republic whether caused by natural causes or otherwise, which could achieve such a serious nature as to be of national concern;“emergency area” means any area of the United Republic in which there exists an emergency declared by the President;“President” includes any person lawfully discharging the functions of the President; and“public meeting” means any assembly of more than five persons wherever it takes place and whether or not open to the public or to any category or portion of the public; and a meeting may be a public meeting notwithstanding that it is held in a private place or that admission thereto is restricted by ticket or otherwise.
Part II – Proclamation of
4. Procedure relating to declaration of state of
(1)The President shall by directions under his hand, provide for the procedure to be complied with by specified authorities in informing him of events and circumstances in any area or locality within the United Republic, which may necessitate or lead to the declaration of a state of emergency in that area or locality.(2)Where the President, after receiving information in accordance with subsection
(1), is satisfied that there exists in any area or locality of the United Republic a situation which necessitates the declaration of a state of emergency, he may, subject to Article 32 of
the Constitution, by proclamation published in the
Gazette, declare that there exists a state of emergency in the United Republic or in the area or locality of it concerned.[Cap. 2](3)The proclamation issued by the President under subsection
(2) shall be conclusive evidence of the existence of a state of emergency in the United Republic or in the area or locality concerned and that it has existed for such period of time as may be stated in the proclamation.
(4)A proclamation issued under subsection
(2) shall remain in operation until it is revoked by the President by a further proclamation declaring its cessation or until there occurs any of the situations referred to in Article 32(5) of the
Constitution.[Cap. 2](5)The cessation of a state of emergency in accordance with subsection
(4) shall not affect the validity of any act or thing lawfully done or suffered in pursuance of any order or direction, made or issued in furtherance of the proclamation; or affect any right, privilege, obligation, liability, penalty, forfeiture or punishment acquired, accrued or incurred under the proclamation in pursuance of the provisions of this Act.
Part III – Emergency powers
5. Delegation
(1)The President may, by order published in the
Gazette, delegate all or any of the emergency powers conferred upon him by the provisions of this Act to the Vice-President or any person exercising the powers of the President.(2)The delegation made under subsection
(1) shall be in a prescribed form.[
Act No. 12 of 1998 Sch.]
6. Special powers of
The President may do and authorise acts and things, and make such orders and regulations as he may, by reason of the existence of a state of emergency, deem necessary for the security, defence, peace, order and welfare of the United Republic.
READ MORE :
https://tanzlii.org/en/akn/tz/act/1986/1/eng@2023-12-31