Tanzania
Witchcraft Act
Chapter 18
- Published in Tanzania Government Gazette
- Commenced on 28 December 1928
- [This is the version of this document at 31 July 2002.]
- [Note: This legislation has been thoroughly revised and consolidated under the supervision of 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. This version is up-to-date as at 31st July 2002.]
1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Witchcraft Act.2. Interpretation
In this Act unless the context otherwise requires—"court" includes a local court as defined in the Magistrates Courts Act1;"instrument of witchcraft" means anything which is used or intended to be used or is commonly used, or which is represented or generally believed to possess the power, to prevent or delay any person from doing any act which he may lawfully do, or to compel any person to do any act which he may lawfully refrain from doing, or to discover the person guilty of any alleged crime or other act of which complaint is made, or to cause death, injury or disease to any person or damage to any property, or to put any person in fear, or by supernatural means to produce any natural phenomena, and includes charms and medicines commonly used for any of the purposes aforesaid;"police force" means the Tanzania Police Force;"public officer" means any employee of Government or of a local government authority;"witchcraft" includes sorcery, enchantment, bewitching, the use of instrument of witchcraft, the purported exercise of any occult power and the purported possession of any occult knowledge.3. Exercise of witchcraft, possession and supply of instruments of witchcraft, and advice of threats use of witchcraft an offence
Any person who—4. Accusation of witchcraft
Any person, otherwise than in the course of communicating information to or obtaining advice from a court, a member of the police force, a local government authority or any public officer—5. Penalty
6. Abetting and attempts
A person who abets or attempts to commit an offence under this Act commits such an offence.7. Employing or soliciting the use of witchcraft or the instruments of witchcraft
Any person who employs or solicits any other person to resort to the use of witchcraft or any instrument of witchcraft for any purpose whatsoever commits an offence.8. District Commissioners may order persons practising witchcraft to reside in certain places
9. Penalties incurred under other laws not excluded
Nothing in this Act shall affect the liability of any person to any penalty which he may incur under any other law, provided that no person shall be punished twice for the same act.History of this document
31 July 2002 this version
Consolidation
28 December 1928
Commenced
Documents citing this one 13
Judgment 11
Legislation 2
1. | Railways Act | 14 citations |
2. | Corporal Punishment Act |