Tanzania
Registration and Identification of Persons Act
Chapter 36
- Published in Tanzania Government Gazette
- Commenced
- [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.]
Part I – Preliminary provisions (ss. 1-4)
1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Registration and Identification of Persons Act.2. Commencement
This Act shall come into operation on such date as the Minister may, by notice published in the Gazette, appoint.3. Interpretation
In this Act, unless the context requires otherwise—"alien" means any person who is not a citizen or a national of the United Republic."applicant" means a person required to apply for registration under section 7 of this Act;"citizen" means a person who is a citizen of the United Republic in accordance with the law for the time being relating to of citizenship;"diplomatic person" means the consular or diplomatic employee and other members of the staff or families of the staff of a consular or diplomatic mission appointed to their positions by the government of the appropriate foreign power or an international organisation, and who would not otherwise be living in the United Republic;"identity card" means a card indicating the identity of the holder issued by the Registrar under this Act;"Minister" means the Minister for the time being responsible for matters relating to citizenship;"Registrar" means the person appointed as such under section 5, and includes any person discharging the functions of the Assistant Registrar or any functions under this Act upon the directions of the Registrar;"registration office" means an office established or set up in pursuance of subsection (4) of section 5;"registration officer" means the Registrar, any registrar or an assistant registrar appointed under section 5 and performing any function pursuant to any provision of this Act.4. Application
Part II – Registration of persons (ss. 5-9)
(i) – Administration (ss. 5-6)
5. Appointments, officers, etc.
6. Terms of service of registration officers
(ii) – Registration (ss. 7-9)
7. Registration of persons
8. Applications for registration
9. Registration procedure
Part III – Identity cards (ss. 10-14)
10. Types and issue of identity cards
11. Duty to use registered name and to submit number of identity card
Notwithstanding the provisions of any law to the contrary, every person who is registered under this Act shall, in all dealings with the Government or of a public nature—12. Custody and safety of identity card
13. Replacement of identity cards
14. Production and inspection of identity cards
Part IV – General provisions (ss. 15-24)
15. Power to exempt
16. Evidence
In any proceedings for an offence under this Act, any document purporting to be a certificate signed by the Registrar or other registration officer, certifying a copy or extract of any record kept by him under this Act, shall be prima facie evidence of the facts stated in the certificate and, unless the contrary is proved, shall be deemed to be signed by the registration officer mentioned in it.17. No presumption of truth of contents of identity card
The burden of proving the truth of the contents of any application for registration under this Act or the contents of an identity card issued under this Act, shall be on the applicant or holder of the identity card or on any other person alleging the truth of those contents.18. Power to certify and furnish certified copies
The Registrar, and any other registration officer authorised in writing by him in that behalf may, upon receipt of a written and signed request from the person to whom an identity card relates or from a public officer or authority, and upon payment of the appropriate prescribed fee—19. Duty not to disclose photographs, fingerprints and particulars
Subject to section 18, the Registrar, a registration officer and an immigration officer performing the functions of his office under this Act shall not—20. Offences and penalties
21. Power of arrest
22. Power to make regulations
23. Public officers' indemnity
No suit shall lie against any public officer in respect of anything done or omitted to be done by that officer in good faith in the exercise or purported exercise of any function conferred by this Act.24. Transitional provisions
[Transitional provisions.]History of this document
31 July 2002 this version
Consolidation