THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL ACT
This section says the Act may be cited as the National Security Council Act.
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- THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL ACT
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About this statute
This section says the Act may be cited as the National Security Council Act. This section says the Act applies in Mainland Tanzania and Tanzania Zanzibar, but it does not apply to operational-level security matters except in cases of public interest and when the defence and national security organs advise otherwise. This section defines several terms used in the Act, including “Chairman,” “Council,” “defence and security organs,” “Minister,” “President,” and “security.” This section establishes the National Security Council and sets out its members and officers. It also lets the Council invite people to meetings for advice and form committees when needed. The Council is the President’s main advisory body on national security and must carry out specified security-related functions.
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Provisions of THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL ACT
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Short title
This section says the Act may be cited as the National Security Council Act.
1. This Act may be cited as the National Security Council Act. Application - 2 Verify source ↗
Application
This section says the Act applies in Mainland Tanzania and Tanzania Zanzibar, but it does not apply to operational-level security matters except in cases of public interest and when the defence and national security organs advise otherwise.
2.–(1) This Act shall apply to Mainland Tanzania as well as Tanzania Zanzibar. (2) This Act shall not apply to security matters at operational level except for exigency of public interest and where the defence and national security organs so advise. Interpretation Act No. 12 of 2019 s. 38 - 3 Verify source ↗
Interpretation
This section defines several terms used in the Act, including “Chairman,” “Council,” “defence and security organs,” “Minister,” “President,” and “security.”
3. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires- “Chairman” means the Chairman of the Council; “Council” means the National Security Council established under section 4; “defence and security organs” means the Tanzania Peoples’ Defence Forces, National Service, Tanzania Police Force, Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau, Drugs Control and Enforcement Authority, Fire and Rescue Forces, Tanzania Prisons Service, Immigration Services and Tanzania Intelligence and Security Service; 117 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL ACT [CAP. 61 R.E. 2023] “Minister” means the Minister responsible for the national security; “President” means the President of the United Republic of Tanzania; and Cap. 47 “security” has the meaning ascribed to it under the National Security Act. PART II THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL Establishment and structure of Council Act No. 12 of 2019 s. 39
Part
PART II
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Establishment and structure of Council
This section establishes the National Security Council and sets out its members and officers. It also lets the Council invite people to meetings for advice and form committees when needed.
4.–(1) There is hereby established a Council to be known as the National Security Council. (2) The Council shall consist of the following members: (a) the President, who shall be the Chairman of the Council; (b) the Vice-President; (c) the President of Zanzibar; (d) the Prime Minister; and (e) the Second Vice-President of Zanzibar. (3) The Chief Secretary shall be the Secretary to the Council. (4) The Council may invite any person to its meetings for the purpose of giving advice on any matter which is the subject of consideration. (5) The Council may, where circumstances require, form a Committee for the purpose of performing or undertaking a specific function or task on its behalf. Functions of Council - 5 Verify source ↗
Functions of Council
The Council is the President’s main advisory body on national security and must carry out specified security-related functions.
5.–(1) The Council shall be the principal advisory organ to the President on matters relating to the national security. (2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the functions of the Council shall be to- (a) formulate, establish and oversee core values of the national security for purposes of protecting and defending national interests; (b) review policies of defence, security, foreign affairs and other policies which relate to national security in view of prevailing national and international circumstances; 118 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL ACT [CAP. 61 R.E. 2023] Secretariat Act No. 12 of 2019 s. 40 Functions of Secretariat (c) evaluate the state of national security on short and long terms and recommend the proper cause of action; (d) receive and analyse reports relating to the state of defence and security in the country from the defence and security organs, Government departments and institutions, Regional Security Committees and give directions as appropriate; and (e) perform any other function as may be assigned by the President. - 6 Verify source ↗
Secretariat
The Secretariat to the Council must include specified officers and assistants from listed services and departments.
6. There shall be the Secretariat to the Council comprising of- (a) the Chief Secretary who shall be the head and the Co- ordinator; (b) two Assistant Co-ordinators from the Tanzania Peoples’ Defence Forces; (c) two Assistant Co-ordinator from the Tanzania Intelligence and Security Service; (d) one Assistant Co-ordinator from the Police Force; (e) one Assistant Co-ordinator from the Immigration Department; (f) one Assistant Co-ordinator from the Tanzania Prisons Service; and (g) one Assistant Co-ordinator from the Special departments of the Government of Zanzibar. - 7 Verify source ↗
Functions of Secretariat
The Secretariat must handle Council support work such as agendas, minutes, reports, coordination, record-keeping, confidentiality, and follow-up, and it may co-opt a person at its meetings for advice.
7.–(1) The Functions of the Secretariat shall be to- (a) prepare agenda and take minutes of Council meetings; (b) analyse and compile various reports from the defence and security organs and other Government departments and institutions for submission to the Council for its decision; (c) coordinate and serve as a focal point for the administration of activities between the Council, Government departments and institutions as well as defence and security organs; (d) keep and maintain records and control confidentiality of documents relating to the Council’s activities; 119 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL ACT [CAP. 61 R.E. 2023] (e) make follow-up and prepare implementation reports of the Council’s decisions; and (f) perform any other function as may be assigned to it by the Council. (2) The Secretariat may co-opt any person during its meeting for the purposes of giving advice on any matter which is the subject of consideration. PART III SECURITY COMMITTEES Composition of Regional Security Committees Act No. 12 of 2019 s. 41
Part
PART III
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Composition of Regional Security Committees
This section establishes Regional and District Security Committees, sets out the Regional Committee’s members, allows it to invite advisers, and lets it create a committee for specific tasks when needed.
8.–(1) There is hereby established the following Security Committees: (a) the Regional Security Committees; and (b) the District Security Committees. (2) The Regional Security Committee shall be composed of- (a) the Regional Commissioner, who shall be the Chairman; (b) the Regional Administrative Secretary, who shall be the Secretary; (c) the Regional Police Commander; (d) the Commanding Officer of the Tanzania Peoples’ Defence Forces Unit; (e) the Regional Security Officer; (f) the Regional Immigration Officer; (g) the Regional Militia Advisor; (h) the Regional Prisons Officer; (i) the Regional Special Department from the Government of Zanzibar; (j) the Regional Bureau Chief; and (k) the Regional Fire and Rescue Officer. (3) The Regional Security Committee may invite any person to its meeting for the purpose of giving advice on any matter which is the subject of its consideration except that, the person shall not have a right to vote. 120 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL ACT [CAP. 61 R.E. 2023] Functions of Regional Security Committees (4) The Regional Security Committee may, where circumstances require, form a Committee for the purpose of performing or undertaking a specific function or task on its behalf. - 9 Verify source ↗
Functions of Regional Security Committees
The Regional Security Committee has a set of functions to handle security reports, prepare evaluation reports, coordinate responses to emergencies and serious incidents, advise on security issues, consider certain applications, and follow up on strategic reserves.
9. The functions of the Regional Security Committee shall be to- (a) receive and analyse security reports from the District Security Committees, defence and security organs and take appropriate action; (b) prepare evaluation reports on defence and security situation in the Regional for submission to the relevant authorities within the region; (c) plan, coordinate and give directions on the manner of dealing with emergencies such as disasters, famine, epidemics, floods and major accidents, incidents like serious crimes, cattle theft, land disputes, environmental degradation, robbery, sabotage, illegal immigrants, moral turpitude, illicit drugs including other occurrences which are likely to endanger peace and tranquility to the public in the respective Region; (d) specify and identify social and administrative problems within the Region which may endanger security and advise the relevant authority on appropriate measures or the proper course of action; (e) consider applications for citizenship and advise the Minister responsible for citizenship; (f) consider applications for ownership of arms and explosives and make decision in accordance with the existing laws; (g) evaluate and make follow-up on the status of strategic reserve levels of food, medicine and fuel and alert the relevant authorities for their action; and (h) perform any other function as may be assigned to it by the relevant authority. 121 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL ACT [CAP. 61 R.E. 2023] Composition of District Security Committees Act No. 12 of 2019 s. 42 - 10 Verify source ↗
Composition of District Security Committees
This section sets the membership of the District Security Committee and lets it invite advisers or form a subcommittee when needed.
10.–(1) The District Security Committee shall be composed of- (a) the District Commissioner, who shall be the Chairman; (b) the District Administrative Secretary, who shall be the Secretary; (c) the Commanding Officer of the Tanzania Peoples’ Defence Forces Unit situated in the respective District; (d) the District Security Officer; (e) the District Police Commander; (f) the District Militia Advisor; (g) the District Immigration Officer; (h) the District Prisons Officer; (i) the District Fire and Rescue Officer; (j) the District Special Departments from the Government of Zanzibar; and (k) the District Bureau Chief. (2) The District Security Committee may invite any person in its meeting for the purpose of giving advice on any matter which is the subject of its consideration except that, the person shall not have a right to vote. (3) The District Security Committee may, where circumstances require, form a Committee for the purpose of performing or undertaking a specific function or task on its behalf. Functions of District Security Committees - 11 Verify source ↗
Functions of District Security Committees
The District Security Committee must carry out planning, coordination, reporting, advice, and follow-up functions on security matters in the District.
11. The functions of the District Security Committee shall be to- (a) prepare plans and strategies for defence and security and make follow-up for the implementation; (b) prepare evaluation reports on defence and security situation in the District for submission to the Secretary of the Regional Security Committee; (c) plan, coordinate and give directions on the manner of dealing with emergencies within the District such as disasters, epidemics, famine, floods and major accidents and occurrences like serious crimes, cattle theft, land disputes, environmental degradation, robbery, piracy, 122 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL ACT [CAP. 61 R.E. 2023] looting, poaching, rape, sabotage, illegal immigrants, illicit drugs, moral including other occurrences which are likely to endanger peace and tranquility within the respective District; turpitude, (d) specify and identify social and administrative problems within the District which may endanger security and advise the relevant authority on the appropriate measures or course of action; (e) consider applications for citizenship and submit recommendations to the Regional Security Committee; (f) consider applications for ownership of arms and explosives and make decisions in accordance with the existing laws or advise the Regional Security Committee on the applications; (g) evaluate and make follow-up on the status of strategic reserve levels of food, medicine and fuel and inform the Regional Security Committee for its action; and (h) perform any other function as may be assigned by the relevant authority. PART IV GENERAL PROVISIONS Offences and penalties
Part
PART IV
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Offences and penalties
Committee members under section 8 must not divulge information obtained through their membership; doing so is an offence and may lead to a penalty set by the relevant law.
12. A person who, being a member of any Committee referred to under section 8, divulges any information obtained by virtue of his membership to the Committee, commits an offence and on conviction shall be liable to a penalty prescribed for offence under the relevant law. Proceedings of Regional and District Security Committees - 13 Verify source ↗
Proceedings of Regional and District Security Committees
If the Chairman is absent, the person presiding at a Regional Security Committee or District Security Committee meeting must be a person acting as the Regional Commissioner or District Commissioner.
13. In the absence of the Chairman, the person presiding over at the meeting of the Regional Security Committee or the District Security Committee, shall be a person acting in that capacity of the Regional Commissioner or the District Commissioner. 123 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL ACT [CAP. 61 R.E. 2023] Submission of periodic reports to Council - 14 Verify source ↗
Submission of periodic reports to Council
Certain defence and security committees must submit quarterly reports to the relevant authorities, and the Council and security committees must work on a system that lets people and institutions submit information and reports.
14.–(1) The defence and security committees specified under this Act shall, on the basis of geographical administrative hierarchical arrangements, be under the general obligation to submit to the relevant authorities, quarterly reports on defence and national security matters. (2) Public and private institutions may be required to submit reports on any matter which the Council or defence and security committees considers necessary for defence and security, group of persons, the community or the general public. (3) Without prejudice to subsection (2), the Council, the Regional Security Committees and the District Security Committees, shall work on a system which shall enable individual persons, public and private institutions to submit information and reports relating to matters of concerned to defence and national security. Expenses of Council Regulations - 15 Verify source ↗
Expenses of Council
Expenses for the Council at all levels are paid from the Consolidated Fund.
15. The expenses incurred by or in respect of the Council at all levels shall be charged on and paid out of the Consolidated Fund. - 16 Verify source ↗
Regulations
The Minister may make regulations for matters needed or convenient to better carry out this Act.
16. The Minister may make regulations prescribing matters which are necessary or convenient to be prescribed for better carrying out or giving effect to the provisions of this Act. PART V CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS Omitted 17-21. [Omitted] 124 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.
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