The Official Oaths Act

1.–(1) This Act may be cited as the Official Oaths Act. (2) Except as otherwise provided in any other written law in relation to any oath to be taken in connection with any office, the form of the official oaths to be taken in connection with public office shall be as prescribed by this Act.

2.–(1) The oath of allegiance, the oath of the President, the oath of a Minister, Judge’s/Judicial Officers oath, the speaker’s oath, the official oath and the oath of secrecy shall be in the forms set out in the First Schedule. (2) A person may take any such oath, or an affirmation in lieu of it, in either the English or the Swahili form.

3. Where a person expresses any objection to taking an oath or expresses a desire to make an affirmation in lieu of it, he may, without being further questioned as to the grounds of the objection or desire, make a solemn affirmation in the form of the oaths appointed in this Act, substituting the words “solemnly and sincerely declare and affirm” for the word “swear” and omitting the words “So help me God”. 538 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE OFFICIAL OATHS ACT [CAP. 266 R.E. 2023] President’s oaths

4. The oaths to be taken by the President on his assumption of office shall be tendered by and subscribed before the Chief Justice. Minister’s oaths

5. In addition to the oath of allegiance, every Minister shall take and subscribe the oaths of a Minister, and those oaths shall be tendered by and subscribed before the President. Deputy Minister’s oaths Act No. 10 of 1980, Sch. Judges’s oath Act No. 10 of 2013 s.39

6. In addition to the oath of allegiance, every Deputy Minister shall subscribe to the official oath, and every oath, shall be tendered by and subscribed before the President.

7. In addition to the oath of allegiance, the Chief Justice, Jaji Kiongozi, a Justice of the Court of Appeal and a Judge of the High Court shall take and subscribe the judicial oath before the President. Speaker’s oaths Act No. 17 of 1989 Sch.

8. In addition to the oath of allegiance, the Speaker shall take and subscribe the oath of the Speaker of the National Assembly, and those oaths shall be tendered and subscribed before the National Assembly. [s. 7A] Oath of allegiance

9. The President may require any person holding or acting in an office in the service of the Republic to take and subscribe the oath of allegiance before any person whom he may appoint. [s. 8] Judge’s/Judicial Officers oath

10. The Judge’s/Judicial Officers oath, shall be taken and subscribed by every person holding or acting in an office specified in Part I of the Second Schedule before entering upon the duties of his office, before the person specified in that Part in relation to that office. [s. 9] 539 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE OFFICIAL OATHS ACT [CAP. 266 R.E. 2023] Official oath Oath of secrecy Act No. 10 of 2013 s.40

11. The official oath shall be taken and subscribed by every person holding or acting in an office specified in Part II of the Second Schedule before entering upon the duties of his office, before the person specified in that Part in relation to that office. [s. 10]

12.–(1) The Secretary to, and any other officers of, the Cabinet, and any persons in attendance to the Cabinet, as the President may direct, shall take and subscribe the oath of secrecy, and that oath shall be tendered by and subscribed before the President. (2) Subject to subsection (1), where the President is absent, the oath shall be subscribed before the Vice President. (3) In case both the President and Vice President are absent, the oath shall be tendered by and subscribed before the Prime Minister. [s. 11] Oath of justice of peace Act No. 55 of 1963 Sch.

13. The oath of a justice of the peace shall be taken by a person who becomes or is appointed as a justice of the peace, before he assumes the functions of that office: Provided that, nothing in this section shall apply to a magistrate who, by virtue of his office as such, is also a justice of the peace. [s. 11A] Unnecessary repetition of oaths

14. Where a person who has taken an oath by reason of the provisions of sections 9, 10, 11 or 12, is appointed to, or to act in, some other office whereby he is required to take the oath of allegiance, the Judge’s/Judicial Officers oath, the official oath or the oath of secrecy, or to be in attendance on the Cabinet, he shall not be required to take any oath by reason of that appointment unless the oath required to be taken is different from or in addition to any oath already taken by him and duly recorded in respect of any previous appointment: 540 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE OFFICIAL OATHS ACT [CAP. 266 R.E. 2023] Omission to take oath not to invalidate acts Provided that, nothing in this section shall apply to a person on assuming the office of President or to a person appointed a Minister, Deputy Minister or judge. [s. 12]

15. Nothing in this Act shall render invalid any act done by a person holding office in the service of the United Republic or in attendance to the Cabinet, in the executions or purported executions of his official duties, by reason only of the omission of that person to take an oath which in accordance with the provisions of this Act that he should have taken: Provided that, where any person declines, neglects or omits to take or subscribe any oath required by this Act to be taken by him which is duly tendered, he shall, if he shall have already entered on his office, vacate the same, and, if he shall not have entered upon the duties of his office, be disqualified from entering the same. [s. 13] Oaths to be recorded and attested

16. An oath taken in pursuance of the provisions of this Act shall be recorded in a book kept for the purpose and the person tendering the oath shall attest the same in the book, and the book shall be conclusive evidence for all purposes that any oath recorded in it has been duly taken and recorded. [s. 14] Oaths by persons who are not citizens

17. The taking or subscription of the oath of allegiance by a person who is not and does not subsequent become a citizen of the United Republic shall not render that person liable, after he has ceased to hold office in the service of the Republic, to any duty of allegiance to the Republic: Provided that, nothing in this section shall be construed as releasing any such person from any allegiance to which a person is subject whether or not he takes any such oath. [s. 15] 541 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE OFFICIAL OATHS ACT [CAP. 266 R.E. 2023] Power to amend Second Schedule

18. The President may, by order published in the Gazette, remove from or add to either of the Parts of the Second Schedule, the name of any office in the service of the United Republic. Repeal Ord. No. 25 of 1932 Acts Nos. 55 of 1963 Sch. 17 of 1989 Sch. 10 of 2013 s.41

19. [Repeals the Official Oaths Ordinance.] [s. 16] [s. 17] FIRST SCHEDULE (Made under section 2) OATH OF ALLEGIANCE I, ..................................................... do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the United Republic of Tanzania, and that I will preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of Tanzania as by law established. So help me God. KIAPO CHA UTII Mimi, .............................................., naapa kwamba nitakuwa mwaminifu kwa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania na kuitumikia kwa moyo wangu wote na kwamba nitaihifadhi, nitailinda, na kuitetea Katiba ya Tanzania kwa mujibu wa Sheria iliyowekwa. Ewe Mwenyezi Mungu, nisaidie. OATH OF THE PRESIDENT I, ...................................................., do swear that I will faithfully and diligently discharge my duties and perform my functions in the high office of President of the United Republic of Tanzania, and that I will do right to all manner of people, according to the laws and customs of the United Republic, without fear or favour, affection or ill will. So help me God. KIAPO CHA RAIS Mimi, ....................................................., naapa kwamba nitatenda kazi zangu za Urais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania kwa uaminifu, na kutimiza wajibu wa kazi hizo kwa bidii na kwa moyo mkunjufu, na kwamba nitawatendea haki watu wote kwa mujibu wa sheria, mila na desturi za Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania, bila woga, upendeleo, huba wala chuki. Ewe Mwenyezi Mungu, nisaidie. 542 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE OFFICIAL OATHS ACT [CAP. 266 R.E. 2023] OATH OF THE VICE PRESIDENT/A MINISTER I, ..............................................................., do swear that I will well and truly serve the United Republic of Tanzania in the office of Vice- President/Minister, that I will to the best of my judgement, at all times when so required, give my counsel and advice to the President of the United Republic of Tanzania for the good management of the public affairs of the United Republic, and that I will not directly or indirectly reveal such matters as shall be referred to the Cabinet and committed to my secrecy. So help me God. KIAPO CHA MAKAMU WA RAIS/WAZIRI Mimi, .........................................................., naapa kwamba nitaitumikia vema na kwa moyo thabiti Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania katika kazi zangu za Makamu wa Rais/Uwaziri, na kwa wakati wote nitamshauri kwa hekima na uaminifu Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania na kwa vyovyote vile sitatoa siri za Baraza la Mawaziri. Ewe Mwenyezi Mungu, nisaidie. SPEAKER’S OATH I, ..................................................................... do hereby take oath that I will well and truly serve the United Republic of Tanzania in the Office of Speaker of the National Assembly and that, in the exercise of the functions of this office I will do right to all manner of persons, according to the Constitution, the Standing Orders of the National Assembly, and the laws and customs of the United Republic, and that I will not directly or indirectly reveal such matters as shall be referred to the National Assembly and committed to my secrecy. So Help me God. KIAPO CHA SPIKA Mimi, .................................................................................... naapa kwamba nitaitumikia vema na kwa moyo thabiti Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania katika kazi zangu kama Spika wa Bunge, na katika kutimiza wajibu wa cheo hicho nitawatendea haki watu wote kwa mujibu wa Katiba, Kanuni za Bunge, na sheria, mila na desturi za Jamhuri ya Muungano na kwa vyovyote vile sitatoa siri za Bunge. Ewe Mwenyezi Mungu nisaidie. JUDGE’S/JUDICIAL OFFICER’S OATH I, ..........................................., do swear that I will well and truly serve the United Republic of Tanzania in the office of ........................................ and that I will do justice in accordance with the constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania as by law established, and in accordance with the laws and customs of the United Republic without fear or favour, affection or ill will. So help me God. 543 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE OFFICIAL OATHS ACT [CAP. 266 R.E. 2023] KIAPO CHA JAJI/AFISA WA MAHAKAMA Mimi, ..............................................................., naapa kwamba nitaitumikia vema na kwa moyo thabiti Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania katika kazi ya ........................................................................ na nitafanya haki kwa mujibu wa Katiba ya Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania, iliyowekwa kwa sheria na kwa kufuata mila, desturi na sheria za Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania bila hofu, upendeleo, huba wala chuki. Ewe Mwenyezi Mungu nisaidie. OFFICIAL OATH I, ............................................., do swear that I will well and truly serve the United Republic of Tanzania and the President of the United Republic in the office of................................. So help me God. KIAPO CHA UTUMISHI Mimi, ..................................................................................., naapa kwamba nitaitumikia kwa uaminifu Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania na Rais wake katika kazi ya ...................................................................Ewe Mwenyezi Mungu, nisaidie. OATH OF SECRECY I, .........................................................................., having been appointed to ..............................................., do swear that I will not directly or indirectly reveal such matters as shall be brought under my consideration or shall be made known to me as .............................................................. except as may be required in the discharge of my duties as such or with the authority of the President. So help me God. KIAPO CHA KUHIFADHI SIRI Mimi, ........................................................., naapa kwamba katika kazi yangu ya ......................................................, kwa vyovyote vile sitatoa siri ambazo nitazijua katika kazi zangu isipokuwa katika kutimiza wajibu wa kazi hizo, au kwa idhini ya Rais. Ewe Mwenyezi Mungu, nisaidie. OATH OF A JUSTICE OF THE PEACE I, ......................................................, do swear that I will well and truly serve the United Republic of Tanzania in the office of Justice of the Peace and that, in the exercise of the functions of that office, I will do right to all manner of persons to the best of my ability and power in accordance with the laws and customs of the Republic. So help me God. 544 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE OFFICIAL OATHS ACT [CAP. 266 R.E. 2023] KIAPO CHA MLINZI WA AMANI Mimi, ........................................................ naapa kwamba nitaitumikia vema na kwa moyo thabiti Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania katika kazi zangu za Mlinzi wa Amani na kwamba katika kutimiza wajibu wa cheo hicho, nitawatendea haki watu wote kwa kufuata mila, desturi na sheria za Jamhuri ya Muungano. Ewe Mwenyezi Mungu, nisaidie. SECOND SCHEDULE (Made under sections 10 and 11) PART I Deputy Registrar of the Court of Appeal Registrar of the High Court and Deputy Registrar of the High Court, District Registrar of the High Court Before the Principal Judge or a High Court Judge Resident Magistrate; District Magistrate and all members other than the Chairman, of the Local Government Service Commission Before the Chief Justice Primary Court Magistrate - Before a Resident Magistrate or a District Magistrate Act No. 55 of 1963 1 of 2023 G.Ns. Nos. 12 of 1991; 481 of 1991; 69 of 1992; 131 of 1992; 250 of 1992 545 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE OFFICIAL OATHS ACT [CAP. 266 R.E. 2023] President Vice President PART II Before the Chief Justice Prime Minister Minister Chief Secretary Member of the Planning Commission Executive Secretary of the Planning Commission Deputy Executive Secretaries of the Planning Commission Deputy Minister Attorney-General Registrar of the Court of Appeal Deputy Attorney-General Director of Public Prosecutions Chief Parliamentary Draftsman Regional Commissioner High Commissioner and Ambassador Permanent Secretary Deputy Permanent Secretary Private Secretary to the President Registrar of Political Parties Deputy Registrar of Political Parties Regional Development Director Clerk of the National Assembly Chief of Defence Forces Inspector-General of Police Director-General of Intelligence and Security Director-General of the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau Chief of Staff-Defence Forces Director of the National Service Commissioner General of Prisons Chairman of the Civil Service Commission Chairman of the Permanent Commission of Enquiry Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission; All Commissioners of the Permanent Commission of Enquiry; Chairman of the Teachers’ Service Commission; Senior Commissioner of Police; and Commissioner of Prisons. 546 Before the President ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE OFFICIAL OATHS ACT [CAP. 266 R.E. 2023] District Commissioner - Before a Regional Commissioner Officer in the Foreign Service required by the President to take the oaths - Before a Permanent Secretary or a Head of Mission. All Officers of the Police Force of or above the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police - Before the Inspector-General of Police; the Senior Commissioner of Police; a Commissioner of Police; a Regional Police Commander or a Commanding Officer. All Officers of the rank of Director in the Intelligence and Security Services - Before the Director-General of Intelligence and Security. The Deputy Director and all Heads of Department of the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau - Before the Director of the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau. 547 ©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.