The Regions and Districts (Establishment Procedure) Act

1. This Act may be cited as the Regions and Districts (Establishment Procedure) Act. Application

2. This Act shall apply to Tanzania Zanzibar as well as to Mainland Tanzania. Applicable procedure in establishment of regions, districts, etc.

3. The procedure laid down in this Act shall apply in all cases where the President- (a) on his own volition; or (b) upon the recommendation of- (i) the President of Zanzibar, in relation to areas in Tanzania Zanzibar; (ii) the Prime Minister, in relation to areas in Tanzania Mainland; and (iii) any district or regional authority through the Prime Minister, in relation to Mainland Tanzania and the President of Zanzibar, in relation to Zanzibar, intends to divide any area of the United Republic into a region or a district or to vary their boundaries. Notice of intention to establish regions, districts, etc.

4.–(1) The President shall give or cause to be given a notice of intention to divide any area into a region or a district or to vary the boundaries of regions or districts. 388 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE REGIONS AND DISTRICTS (ESTABLISHMENT PROCEDURE) ACT [CAP. 397 R.E. 2023] (2) The notice given under subsection (1) of this section shall indicate the general direction of the boundaries, reasons for the proposed division or variation and such other matters as the President may deem necessary and shall call upon all interested or affected authorities and persons to lodge with him in writing any objections or other representations in such manner and within such period as may be prescribed in the notice. (3) Where any objection or other representation has been lodged pursuant to subsection (2) of this section, the President shall cause to be delivered to the authority or persons lodging the objection or representation an acknowledgement of receipt of the objection or representation. Notice of intention to establish region, district, etc., to be published

5. A notice of intention given under section 4 of this Act shall be published in the Gazette, and in at least one national newspaper and if available, in one newspaper circulating in the area to be affected by the proposed division or variation of boundary. Regions, districts, etc, to be established by proclamation

6.–(1) Where the President upon the expiration of a notice given under section 4 to which no objection or other representation has been lodged, has considered any objections or other representations made, he may, by proclamation published in the Gazette, establish the proposed region or district or vary the boundaries of such region or district. (2) The proclamation made under subsection (1) shall set out the name and the boundaries of the region or district so established or the particulars of the boundaries of the region or district so varied. Proclamation to be laid before National Assembly

7. As soon as possible after a proclamation has been made under section 6 the President shall cause a copy of the proclamation together with a copy of the notice given under section 4 of this Act to be laid before the National Assembly. Existing regions and districts to continue Cap. 2

8. Notwithstanding the provisions of any law to the contrary, every proclamation of a pegion or pistrict made under Article 2(2) of the Constitution of the United Republic prior to this 389 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE REGIONS AND DISTRICTS (ESTABLISHMENT PROCEDURE) ACT [CAP. 397 R.E. 2023] Act, shall with effect from the date of coming into operation of this Act, be deemed to be a proclamation of regions and districts made under this Act, and shall continue in force until it is amended, revoked or replaced by a proclamation made in accordance with this Act. 390 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.