The War Graves Act

This section gives the Act its short title: the War Graves Act.

Jurisdiction: Tanzania
Instrument: Act or statute
Citation: The War Graves Act
Version: Undated source snapshot
Language: en
Official source: View official record ↗

compensation compliance government powers heritage or grave protection human remains land access land control public memorial maintenance site protection war graves

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About this statute

This section gives the Act its short title: the War Graves Act. This section defines “Commission” and “war grave” for the Act. The President may, by notice in the Gazette, give the Commission control of certain war graves or land for war graves and memorials. The Commission may do what is necessary or convenient to fulfil its purposes, including maintaining and beautifying war graves and war grave cemeteries under its control. If a war grave is on private land, the Commission must give the occupier at least 24 hours’ notice before entering, consult where possible, and pay actual damage. The owner of a non-war grave in a war grave cemetery keeps access and maintenance rights, and the Commission may not interfere with it.

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Provisions of The War Graves Act

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1
Short title
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This section gives the Act its short title: the War Graves Act.

1. This Act may be cited as the War Graves Act. Interpretation Ord. No. 40 of 1960 s. 2 Power to vest control of war graves and cemeteries in Commission
2
3. Power to vest control of war graves and cemeteries in Commission
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This section defines “Commission” and “war grave” for the Act.

2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires- “Commission” means the Commonwealth War Graves Commission1 a body corporate constituted by the Royal Charter of the 21st May, 1917, and so entitled by virtue of a Supplemental Royal Charter of the 28th March, 1960; “war grave” means a grave which has been accepted by the Commission as a grave within the purposes of the said Charter and of a Supplemental Charter of August 10th, 1921.
3
Power to vest control of war graves and cemeteries in Commission
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The President may, by notice in the Gazette, give the Commission control of certain war graves or land for war graves and memorials.

3. The President may by notice published in the Gazette, vest in the Commission- (a) the control of all or any war graves in Tanzania or in any area of Tanzania, whether on public or private land; (b) the control of any piece of public land containing war graves, in this Act referred to as a war grave cemetery; and (c) the control of any piece of land for the erection by the Commission of a War Memorial elsewhere than in a war grave cemetery. Ord. No. 40 of 1960s. 3 1 Any reference to the Imperial War Graves Commission in any notice issued, power conferred or approval given under the War Graves Act shall be deemed to be a reference to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. 656 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE WAR GRAVES ACT [CAP. 236 R.E. 2023] Powers of Commission Protection of private rights
4
Powers of Commission
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The Commission may do what is necessary or convenient to fulfil its purposes, including maintaining and beautifying war graves and war grave cemeteries under its control.

4. The Commission shall have all powers necessary or convenient for the fullfilment of their purposes and in particular for maintaining any war grave or war grave cemetery under their control in proper order and for beautifying the grave or cemetery, and, in particular, power to enclose the grave or cemetery and to erect and maintain thereon or therein gravestones, tablets or monuments of any description.
5
Protection of private rights
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If a war grave is on private land, the Commission must give the occupier at least 24 hours’ notice before entering, consult where possible, and pay actual damage. The owner of a non-war grave in a war grave cemetery keeps access and maintenance rights, and the Commission may not interfere with it.

5.–(1) Where a war grave is situated on private land, the Commission shall before entering thereon give at least twenty- four hours notice to the occupier, if any, and shall, as far as possible, consult at his convenience, and shall compensate him for any actual damage caused to him by the exercise of their powers. (2) In the event of dispute the amount of such compensation shall be fixed by the President whose decision shall be final. (3) Nothing in this Act shall affect the right of the owner of any grave in a war grave cemetery, not being a war grave, to have access to and maintain such grave, or confer on the Commission any right to interfere with any such grave or gravestone, tablet or monument thereon. Exclusive right of burial
6
Exclusive right of burial
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The Commission has the exclusive right of burial in war graves under its control, and the President may extend that right to vacant spaces in war grave cemeteries under the Commission’s control.

6.–(1) The Commission shall have the exclusive right of burial in all war graves under their control. (2) The President may confer on the Commission the exclusive right of burial in any vacant space in a war grave cemetery under their control. (3) A person shall not, except with the consent of the Commission, bury anybody in any war grave or in any vacant space in any war grave cemetery in which the Commission have the exclusive right of burial. Power to remove bodies from war graves
7
Power to remove bodies from war graves
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The Commission may remove a body from a war grave and re-inter it elsewhere with the President’s consent, subject to any conditions the President imposes.

7. Where the Commission is satisfied that by reason of its situation or for any other reason a war grave cannot be properly maintained in its present position, they may, with the consent of the President and subject to such conditions as he 657 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE WAR GRAVES ACT [CAP. 236 R.E. 2023] may impose, remove the body from the war grave and re-inter it in any place approved by the President for the purpose: Provided that- (a) the body of a Hindu shall, instead of being re-interred, be cremated in the manner customary among Hindus; and (b) the Commission shall, before removing a body, endeavour to obtain the consent of the widow, if any, of the deceased, or, if there is no widow, of one of his next-of-kin, and shall not remove the body if they are of opinion that the removal will be against the wishes of the widow, or, if there is no widow, of the next-of-kin.
8
Offences in relation to war graves
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A person must not damage, disturb, or obstruct protected war-grave property or the Commission’s work, unless an exception applies.

8.–(1) A person shall not wilfully destroy, injure, defile, disfigure or deface any building, wall, fence, gate, tree, plant, monument, tablet, inscription or gravestone belonging to or under the control of the Commission. (2) A person shall not without the consent of the Commission disturb the soil of any war grave under their control, or without lawful title, the soil of any war grave cemetery under their control. (3) A person shall not obstruct the Commission or any servant or agent of the Commission in the exercise of their powers or rights under this Act. (4) The provisions of this section shall not apply to a duly authorised person doing any act or thing in accordance with any power conferred or duty imposed upon him by or under the Graves (Removal) Act.
9
Penalty
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A person who contravenes, attempts, or abets contravention of this Act commits an offence and may be fined up to 500 shillings, imprisoned for up to 6 months, or both.

9. A person who contravenes or attempts or abets the contravention of the provisions of this Act commits an offence and on conviction shall be liable to a fine not exceeding five hundred shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both. Offences in relation to war graves Act No. 9 of 1969 s. 12 Cap. 72 Penalty 658 ©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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The War Graves Act

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