The African Chiefs Act

1. This Act may be cited as the African Chiefs Act, and shall be read as one with the African Chiefs Ordinance (Repeal) Act.

2.–(1) Any and every function, power or authority which, immediately prior to the date of the repeal of the African Chiefs Ordinance by the African Chiefs Ordinance (Repeal) Act could be lawfully exercised or performed by a chief within the meaning of that Ordinance by reason that it was- (a) a traditional function, power or authority of such chief; or (b) a function, power or authority conferred upon such chief by customary law, is hereby abolished, and to the extent to which any customary law confers upon a chief any function, power or authority, such law shall be invalid. (2) A person who exercised or performs or who attempts to exercise or perform any function, power or authority which has been abolished by subsection (1) commits an offence and on conviction shall be liable to a fine not exceeding ten thousand shillings and, in the case of a second or subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding twenty thousand shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or to both. 170 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE AFRICAN CHIEFS ACT [CAP. 252 R.E. 2023] Repeal and saving R.L Cap. 331

3.–(1) [Repeals the African Chiefs Ordinance.] (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1), where in any written law it is provided that any chief within the meaning of the Ordinance hereby repealed shall, by virtue of his office as such, be, or be appointed, a member of any council, assembly, board or other body and, immediately prior to the date of coming into operation of this Act, any person is, pursuant to any such provision, a member of any such council, assembly, board or other body, the Minister responsible for local government may, by order, declare that such person shall not, by reason only of the repeal of the Ordinance hereby repealed, cease to be a member of such council, assembly, board or other body but that such person shall, for such period as is specified in the order or until the order is revoked, remain a member of such council, assembly, board or other body as if the Ordinance hereby repealed was still in operation, and where such order is made such person shall, for the period specified in the order or until the order is revoked, but subject to the provisions of the written law by or under which he became a member of such council, assembly, board or other body, remain a member of that council, assembly, board or other body. 171 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.