The Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Act
This section gives the Act’s short title: the Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Act.
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- The Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Act
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About this statute
This section gives the Act’s short title: the Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Act. This section defines several terms used in the Act, including “authorised officer,” “business of a goldsmith and silversmith,” “goldsmith and silversmith,” and “licensing officer.” A person must not run a goldsmith or silversmith business without a licence issued under the Act. The President may appoint fit and proper persons as licensing officers for this Act. A person may apply for a licence to run a goldsmith or silversmith business by applying to the district licensing officer where the business will be carried on.
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Provisions of The Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Act
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- 1 Verify source ↗
Short title
This section gives the Act’s short title: the Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Act.
1. This Act may be cited as the Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Act. Interpretation Ord. No. 37 of 1953 s. 2; Act No. 33 of 1964 s. 16 - 2 Verify source ↗
3. Business of goldsmith and silver smith not to be carried on without licence
This section defines several terms used in the Act, including “authorised officer,” “business of a goldsmith and silversmith,” “goldsmith and silversmith,” and “licensing officer.”
2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires- “authorised officer” means the district officer, any officer of the Mines Division of the ministry responsible for mines and wildlife and any police officer not below the rank of assistant superintendent; “business of a goldsmith and silversmith” means the making of articles containing gold or silver whether for sale or reward or otherwise; “goldsmith and silversmith” means any person who makes articles or parts of articles either wholly or in part of gold or of silver; and “licensing officer” means the internal revenue officer for the district. Business of goldsmith and silver smith not to be carried on without licence Appointment of licensing officers - 3 Verify source ↗
Business of goldsmith and silver smith not to be carried on without licence
A person must not run a goldsmith or silversmith business without a licence issued under the Act.
3. A person shall not carry on the business of a goldsmith and silversmith without a licence duly issued under the provisions of this Act. - 4 Verify source ↗
Appointment of licensing officers
The President may appoint fit and proper persons as licensing officers for this Act.
4. The President may appoint fit and proper persons to be licensing officers for the purposes of this Act. 504 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE GOLDSMITHS AND SILVERSMITHS ACT [CAP. 228 R.E. 2023] Application for licence to be made to licensing officer - 5 Verify source ↗
Application for licence to be made to licensing officer
A person may apply for a licence to run a goldsmith or silversmith business by applying to the district licensing officer where the business will be carried on.
5. Application for a licence to carry on the business of a goldsmith and silversmith may be made to the licensing officer of the district in which the applicant proposes to carry on business. Notice of first application - 6 Verify source ↗
Notice of first application
First-time licence applicants must give the licensing officer written notice at least 30 days before applying.
6. A person applying for the first time for a licence under this Act shall, thirty days at least before the application, give notice in writing of his intended applications to the licensing officer and shall in the notice, set forth his name and address, and the situation of the premises in which he intends to carry on business. Provisions with regard to licences Ord. No. 37 of 1953 s. 3 - 7 Verify source ↗
Provisions with regard to licences
Licences for goldsmiths and silversmiths may be granted by the district licensing officer, must follow the prescribed form, expire on 31 December, and be issued free of charge.
7.–(1) Licences may be granted by the licensing officer of the district in which the business premises of the goldsmith and silversmith are situated and shall specify the name, residence and business premises of the goldsmith and silversmith and the language in which the books required by section 10 shall be kept, and every such licence shall only have effect in respect of the premises therein named. (2) Nothing in this section render it unlawful for a goldsmith and silversmith to carry on his business at more than one place provided that a separate licence is obtained in respect of each such place. (3) Every licence issued under this section shall be in the form set out in the Schedule to this Act and shall expire on the 31st day of December of the year in which it is granted. (4) Licences granted under this Act shall be issued free of charge. Cap. 208 (5) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to exempt the holder of a goldsmith’s and silversmith’s licence from the provisions of the Business Licensing Act or any law for the time being in force relating to business licensing. Refusal of licence - 8 Verify source ↗
Refusal of licence
The licensing officer may refuse a goldsmith’s and silversmith’s licence. On the applicant’s petition, the President may direct the officer to grant a licence.
8. The licensing officer may, in his discretion, refuse to grant a goldsmith’s and silversmith’s licence but it shall be lawful for the President on petition by the applicant and after considering any representations he may direct the licensing officer to grant a licence: 505 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE GOLDSMITHS AND SILVERSMITHS ACT [CAP. 228 R.E. 2023] Duty of licensee to have signboard outside licensed premises Ord. No. 37 of 1953 s. 4 Keeping and production of books Ord. No. 37 of 1953 s. 5 Provided that, if such refusal is in the case of a renewal of a licence, the licensing officer shall, if so required, state his reasons in writing. - 9 Verify source ↗
Duty of licensee to have signboard outside licensed premises
Licence holders must display a signboard outside the licensed premises with their name and the words “licensed goldsmith and silversmith.”
9.–(1) Every holder of a licence issued under this Act shall keep in a conspicuous position outside the licensed premises a signboard inscribed in legible letters at least three inches high with his name and the words “licensed goldsmith and silversmith”. (2) A person who contravenes the provisions of subsection (1), on conviction, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding two hundred shillings or to imprisonment for one month or to both and on any subsequent conviction, the court may, in addition to the aforesaid penalty, order his licence to be forfeited. - 10 Verify source ↗
Keeping and production of books
Licensed goldsmiths and silversmiths must keep specified books, record each gold or silver transaction, update the daily stock total, and show the books to an authorised officer on demand.
10. Every licensed goldsmith and silversmith shall- (a) keep a book or books in the Kiswahili or English language in roman characters recording in respect of every purchase, receipt, sale or disposal by him of gold, silver or any article or matter containing gold or silver- (i) the date of purchase, receipt, sale or disposal thereof; (ii) the name and address of the vendor, supplier, purchaser or recipient thereof; and (iii) the description and weight thereof and the price or other consideration paid or received in respect thereof; (b) at the close of each day’s business, draw in the book a line in ink across the page immediately below the last entry for the day and make an entry showing the total stock of gold, silver and any article or matter containing gold or silver held at the close of business on that day; and (c) produce such books upon demand for the inspection of any authorised officer. Production of stocks of gold and silver - 11 Verify source ↗
Production of stocks of gold and silver
Licensed goldsmiths and silversmiths must produce their gold and silver stocks and related articles for inspection by an authorised officer when demanded.
11. A licensed goldsmith and silversmith shall, upon demand, produce for the inspection of any authorised officer, his stocks of gold and silver and all articles or matter containing gold or silver. 506 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE GOLDSMITHS AND SILVERSMITHS ACT [CAP. 228 R.E. 2023] Licensed goldsmiths and silversmiths to deal in gold and silver only during certain hours Ord. No. 37 of 1953 s. 6 Power to search premises of goldsmith and silversmith Ord. No. 37 of 1953 s. 7 Penalty for carrying on business of gold- smith and silver- smith without licence Penalties Ord. No. 37 of 1953 s. 8 - 12 Verify source ↗
Licensed goldsmiths and silversmiths to deal in gold and silver only
A licensed goldsmith or silversmith must not buy, sell, receive, deal in, or melt gold or silver outside 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., or anywhere other than the premises named in the licence.
12. The holder of a goldsmith’s and silversmith’s licence shall not buy, sell, deal in, receive either as principal or agent or melt any gold or silver or any matter containing gold or silver intended to be used in the business of a goldsmith and silversmith between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., or at any other place than on the premises specified in his licence: Provided that, subject to the provisions of any other law, the Commissioner of Police may, in his discretion, on the application of licensed goldsmith or silversmith, by written permit under his hand authorise such goldsmith or silversmith to conduct such business during such other hours on or before any day of festival or other special occasion and subject to such conditions to be specified in such permit as the Commissioner of Police deems fit where it appears to him that it is in the public interest to permit such extension. - 13 Verify source ↗
Power to search premises of goldsmith and silversmith
An authorised officer may search a goldsmith’s or silversmith’s premises or residence without a warrant if the officer believes a breach of the Act is being or has been committed.
13. An authorised officer who has reason to believe that a breach of the provisions of this Act is being or has been committed may without a warrant, at any time, search the premises or residence of any goldsmith and silversmith for the purpose of ascertaining what gold, silver or other matter containing gold or silver there is therein. - 14 Verify source ↗
Penalty for carrying on business of gold-smith and silver-smith without licence
A person carrying on the business of a goldsmith or silversmith without a licence commits an offence.
14. A person carrying on the business of a goldsmith and silversmith without a licence, commits an offence and on conviction shall be liable to a fine not exceeding one thousand shillings or to imprisonment for six months or to both. - 15 Verify source ↗
Penalties
This section sets penalties for certain offences, including a fine, imprisonment, or both, and can also allow licence forfeiture for licensed goldsmiths and silversmiths.
15. A licensed goldsmith and silversmith who contravenes or fails to comply with any provisions of this Act for which no penalty is specifically provided and any person who obstructs any authorised officer in the lawful exercise of his powers on conviction, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding two thousand shillings or to imprisonment for one year or, to both and, in the case of a licensed goldsmith and silversmith, the court may in addition to the aforesaid penalty, order his licence to be forfeited. 507 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE GOLDSMITHS AND SILVERSMITHS ACT [CAP. 228 R.E. 2023] Exemption of dentists Cap. 152 - 16 Verify source ↗
Exemption of dentists
Dentists registered or licensed under the specified Act are exempt from this Act when using gold or silver bona fide in their professional work.
16. This Act shall not be deemed to apply to the use of any gold or silver used bona fide in the course of his profession by any person who is registered or licensed as a dentist under the Medical, Dental and Allied Health Professionals Act. Exemption from provisions of section 14 - 17 Verify source ↗
Exemption from provisions of section 14
The officer may authorise a silver worker in writing to make silver articles without a goldsmith’s and silversmith’s licence.
17. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Act, it shall be lawful for the officer to authorise, by writing under his hand, any silver worker to carry on the business of making silver articles without a goldsmith’s and silversmith’s licence. SCHEDULE (Made under section 7(3)) GOLDSMITH’S AND SILVERSMITH’S LICENCE Licence is hereby granted to ............................ of ................................. ................ to carry on the business of a goldsmith and silversmith at (indicate and describe premises by name, situation or other particulars of identity) until the 31st day of December, 20........ Dated at ...................................... this .................... day of ................. 20........ ....................................... licensing officer 508 ©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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