The Armaments Control Act

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CHAPTER 246
THE ARMAMENTS CONTROL ACT
[PRINCIPAL LEGISLATION]
Arrangement of Sections
Section Title
part i
PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
1. Short title.
2. Application.
3. Exemption of firearms.
4. Interpretation.
part ii
ORGANISATION FOR ARMAMENTS CONTROL
5. Armaments control policy.
6. Vesting of control in President.
7. Establishment of Board.
8. Functions of Board.
9. Procedure to exercise functions of Board.
10. Responses to exercise functions of Board.
part iii
CONTROL OF ARMAMENTS
11. Prohibition on possession and conveyance of armaments.
12. Prohibition on export, import of armaments, etc..
13. Prohibition on manufacture of armaments.
14. Issue of search warrant in certain cases, searches, etc..
part iv
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
15. Priority of service to carriers of armaments.
16. Forfeiture of armaments connected with offence.
17. Forfeiture of armaments without apparent owner.
18. Offences.
19. Regulations.

s of armaments.
16. Forfeiture of armaments connected with offence.
17. Forfeiture of armaments without apparent owner.
18. Offences.
19. Regulations.

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PART I
PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
1.–(1) This Act may be cited as the Armaments Control Act. (2) [Omitted.]
2. This Act shall apply to Mainland Tanzania as well as Tanzania
Zanzibar. 3. The Minister may, by order published in the Gazette, exempt
any firearm or category of firearms from the application of this
Act. 4.–(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-
“ammunition” includes explosives, cartridges, balls, caps
and other material for loading firearms;
“armaments” means arms of war, whether complete or in
parts and ammunition for them, namely, firearms, artillery
of all kinds, apparatus for the discharge of all kinds of
explosive or gas-diffusing projectiles, flamethrowers, bombs,
grenades, machine guns, rifles, and small-fire breech-
loading weapons of all kinds;
“arms” means all firearms other than armaments, and all other
weapons described as arms by, and controlled in accordance
with the Fire Arms and Ammunition Control Act;
Short title
Application
Exemption of
firearms
Interpretation
Cap.

arms by, and controlled in accordance
with the Fire Arms and Ammunition Control Act;
Short title
Application
Exemption of
firearms
Interpretation
Cap.

223
CHAPTER 246
THE ARMAMENTS CONTROL ACT
An Act to provide for the machinery and mechanism of controlling and
managing the acquisition, manufacture and dealing in arms of war. [15th January, 1994]
[GN. No. 54 of 1994]
Act No. 2 of 1991

anism of controlling and
managing the acquisition, manufacture and dealing in arms of war. [15th January, 1994]
[GN. No. 54 of 1994]
Act No. 2 of 1991

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THE ARMAMENTS CONTROL ACT [CAP. 246 R.E. 2023]
“Board” means the Armaments Control Advisory Board
established by section 7;
“control of armaments” means any act or process designed
to facilitate or ensure the identification, verification,
inspection, limitation, control, reduction or elimination
of the unauthorised possession, conveyance or presence
of armaments in the United Republic;
“department” means any department or part of a department
of the Government, vested with the duties of defence and
security;
“firearm” means any lethal barrelled weapon of any description
other than a harpoon gun, from which any short, bullet
or other missile can be discharged, and includes any
component part of any firearm and any accessory to any
such weapon designed or adapted to diminish the noise
or flash caused by firing the weapon;
“Government” means the Government of the United Republic
or, wherever relevant, the Revolutionary Government of
Zanzibar;
“Minister” means the Minister responsible for defence.

ernment of the United Republic
or, wherever relevant, the Revolutionary Government of
Zanzibar;
“Minister” means the Minister responsible for defence.

(2) Armaments or arms on the body, or in the custody or
under the control, of any person shall be deemed to be in his
possession. PART II
ORGANISATION FOR ARMAMENTS CONTROL
5. The President shall facilitate and ensure the formulation
and implementation of a realistic policy, consistent with
national security as a whole, for the control of all dealings in
and with armaments within the United Republic, and thereby
providing the impetus toward the achievement of a society in
which the use of force is subordinated to the rule of law and
in which socio-economic adjustments are achieved peacefully,
and ultimately, a world free from the scourge of war and the
dangers and burdens of armaments. Armaments
control policy

ments are achieved peacefully,
and ultimately, a world free from the scourge of war and the
dangers and burdens of armaments. Armaments
control policy

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90
6. Subject to this Act and to any other relevant statutory
provisions, the President shall have and may exercise all functions
and powers necessary for the control, management and use
of armaments in the United Republic and may, by notice
published in the Gazette delegate any functions and powers
to person or body of persons as he may specify in the notice. 7.–(1) There is hereby established a Board to be known as the
National Armaments Control Advisory Board.

y of persons as he may specify in the notice. 7.–(1) There is hereby established a Board to be known as the
National Armaments Control Advisory Board.

(2) The Board shall consist of the following members,
appointed by the President-
(a) three amongst members of the Tanzania People’s Defence
Forces, one of whom shall be appointed Chairman of the
Board;
(b) two amongst members of the Police Force;
(c) one amongst members of the Prisons Services;
(d) one amongst members of the Chuo cha Mafunzo Services
Zanzibar;
(e) one amongst members of the Kikosi Maalum cha Kuzuia
Magendo, Zanzibar;
(f) one amongst members of the Jeshi la Kujenga Uchumi,
Zanzibar; and
(g) three other members one of whom shall be amongst
the staff of the President’s Office. (3) The members of the Board, including the Chairman,
may be appointed either by name or by office and, subject to
subsection (4), shall serve during the pleasure of the President. (4) Where a person appointed to be a member by virtue
of an office he holds vacates that office, he shall cease to be
a member and, unless the President directs otherwise, the
person replacing that person in office shall replace him also as
a member of the Board. Vesting of control
in President
Establishment
of Board

se, the
person replacing that person in office shall replace him also as
a member of the Board. Vesting of control
in President
Establishment
of Board

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THE ARMAMENTS CONTROL ACT [CAP. 246 R.E. 2023]
8.–(1) Subject to the procedure and organisational methods
as the President may, by writing under his hand, direct or
establish, the functions of the Board shall be-
(a) to provide the Government with advice and
recommendations on matters pertaining to the
formulation and implementation of the national policy
on control of armaments;
(b) to provide for and to secure the regulation of dealings
in and with armaments in the United Republic; and
(c) to conduct, sponsor or promote the conduct of research
and other studies and searches which are necessary for the
development of a national capacity to obtain the essential
scientific, economic, political, military, psychological and
technological information upon which a realistic policy
for control of armaments may be based.

tific, economic, political, military, psychological and
technological information upon which a realistic policy
for control of armaments may be based.

(2) In particular, but without prejudice to the generality of
subsection (1), the Board shall, for the purposes of securing
effective implementation of the national policy on control of
armaments-
(a) supervise and regulate the manufacture, importation,
conveyance and disposition of armaments in the United
Republic;
(b) receive and consider all requests by any department for
acquisition of armaments;
(c) evaluate and recommend on the need and the request
by any department for the acquisition by importation
of armaments, taking into account the establishment of
that department and its defence and security requirements
and commitments;
(d) evaluate and recommend on the efficacy, need and quality
of any equipment comprising armaments given as a
donation to any department; and
(e) administer rules and regulations made under this Act and,
any other Act relating to the manufacture, importation,
exportation, distribution, control and management of
armaments made in or imported into the United Republic. Functions of
Board

ufacture, importation,
exportation, distribution, control and management of
armaments made in or imported into the United Republic. Functions of
Board

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92
9.–(1) For the purpose of ensuring the smooth and effectual
discharge of the functions of the Board, the Minister shall
establish a suitable secretariat which shall provide secretarial,
research, information and other services to the Board. (2) The Minister shall, with the prior approval of the
President make provision for the financing of the activities of
the Board. (3) The Board shall establish committees and sub-committees
as it may deem necessary for the co-ordination of research and
other activities carried out by or on behalf of the Board. (4) The Board shall ordinarily meet for the transaction of
its business at the times and places determined by it, but shall
meet at least once every three months. (5) The quorum at any meeting of the Board shall be one
half of the total number of members of the Board and, where
there is an uneven number of members, shall be the whole
next number above half. (6) Subject to subsection (5), the Board may act,
notwithstanding any vacancy in its number.

er of members, shall be the whole
next number above half. (6) Subject to subsection (5), the Board may act,
notwithstanding any vacancy in its number.

(7) Subject to this Act and to any regulations or directions
made or given by the Minister in that behalf, the Board may
regulate its own proceedings. (8) For the purpose of the better and more effectual
performance of its functions, the Board shall establish and
maintain appropriate systems of collaboration and co-operation
with any other person or body of person, whether or not
established by or under any written law, having functions, the
performance of which is relevant to, affects or could affect the
discharge by the Board of its functions under this Act. 10. Where any department, person or body of persons is
aggrieved by or in disagreement with any recommendation,
measure or other act of the Board, that department, person
or body of persons may, after advising the Minister about
his opinion, appeal to the President, and the decision of the
President in the matter shall be final. Procedure to
exercise functions
of Board
Responses to
exercise functions
of Board

ent, and the decision of the
President in the matter shall be final. Procedure to
exercise functions
of Board
Responses to
exercise functions
of Board

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THE ARMAMENTS CONTROL ACT [CAP. 246 R.E. 2023]
PART III
CONTROL OF ARMAMENTS
11.–(1) Subject to this section, after the commencement
of this Act, a person shall not carry, convey or have in his
possession or under his control any armaments except under
and in accordance with the terms of an authorisation in the
prescribed form granted by the Board. (2) Subsection (1) shall not apply to-
(a) any armaments which are in the possession of the
Government and which are duly in the possession or
under the control of some department or person on
behalf of the Government with the knowledge and
consent of the Government; or
(b) any armaments on board of any ship, vehicle, aircraft,
vessel or other conveyance belonging to a foreign power
and which is, with the knowledge and permission of the
Government, in transit through the United Republic.

her conveyance belonging to a foreign power
and which is, with the knowledge and permission of the
Government, in transit through the United Republic.

12.–(1) A person shall not import into or export from, or cause
to be imported into or exported from the United Republic any
armaments except with and under the terms of an authorisation
in the prescribed form granted by the Board. (2) An armaments shall not be imported except at a port,
airport or other entry point prescribed in that behalf by the
Minister by writing under his hand, and the person in charge
of a vessel, aircraft, vehicle or other conveyance having on
board as cargo any armaments, whether in transit or for
transhipment or otherwise, shall, on arrival forthwith furnish
to the port, airport authority or the authority at the other entry
point, as the case may be, a manifest of the cargo. (3) The armaments imported into the United Republic
and intended for any destination outside the United Republic
shall, if landed prior to transhipment, be stored only in such
godowns or places designated in writing in that behalf by the
Minister. Prohibition on
possession and
conveyance of
armaments
Prohibition on
export, import of
armaments, etc.

ated in writing in that behalf by the
Minister. Prohibition on
possession and
conveyance of
armaments
Prohibition on
export, import of
armaments, etc.

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94
13.–(1) Armaments shall not be manufactured or assembled
in the United Republic except at arsenals established by
the Government and in accordance with the terms of an
authorisation in the prescribed form granted by the Board. (2) A person shall not manufacture or assemble arms or
armaments unless he has an authorisation granted by the
Board in that behalf. (3) For the avoidance of doubt, a licence or other permit
granted under the Fire Arms and Ammunition Control Act
enabling the holder to manufacture arms or ammunition shall
not be deemed as sufficing for the purposes of this Act, save
that the holder of such licence or permit shall not be required
to pay any fee under this Act for the purposes of obtaining an
authorisation under this section.

older of such licence or permit shall not be required
to pay any fee under this Act for the purposes of obtaining an
authorisation under this section.

14.–(1) Whenever it appears to a magistrate, upon the oath
of any person, that there is a reasonable cause to suspect that,
any armaments are in any building, vessel, aircraft, vehicle or
elsewhere in contravention of this Act, the magistrate may
by warrant directed to any police officer or other person
appointed by the Minister in that behalf, empower him with
such assistance as may be necessary, by day or by night-
(a) to enter and, if necessary, to break into such building,
vessel, aircraft, vehicle or other conveyance or place,
and to search for and take possession of any armaments
which may be found there, and to carry the armaments
before a magistrate; and
(b) to arrest any person who may appear to have such
armaments in his possession, custody or control.

to carry the armaments
before a magistrate; and
(b) to arrest any person who may appear to have such
armaments in his possession, custody or control.

(2) Whenever any vessel, aircraft or other conveyance not
being a ship, aircraft or other conveyance of war, whether under
way or not, is about to leave the territory, water or air space of
the United Republic, the master or officer in charge of the vessel,
aircraft or other conveyance may, without any warrant for the
purpose, search or cause to be searched all passengers liable to
search and their luggage, baggage and goods, for armaments
Prohibition on
manufacture of
armaments
Cap. 223
Issue of search
warrant in certain
cases, searches,
etc.

ir luggage, baggage and goods, for armaments
Prohibition on
manufacture of
armaments
Cap. 223
Issue of search
warrant in certain
cases, searches,
etc.

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THE ARMAMENTS CONTROL ACT [CAP. 246 R.E. 2023]
and may for that purpose, where necessary, use force or break
open any cases, boxes or other receptacles wherein any item of
armament is or may reasonably be expected to be concealed. (3) A person who is in possession of an armaments or item
of armament may be arrested forthwith by the master or officer
in charge of the vessel, aircraft or other conveyance and, unless
the person satisfactorily accounts for the armaments, commits
an offence under this Act and shall be liable to punishment. PART IV
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
15. A ship, aircraft, vehicle or other conveyance carrying,
ferrying or transporting armaments shall, on arrival at any
port, ferry, airport, toll station, entry point or other place of
embarkation or disembarkation within the United Republic,
be accorded priority of service and be discharged as soon as
possible, subject to provisions of this Act. 16.

sembarkation within the United Republic,
be accorded priority of service and be discharged as soon as
possible, subject to provisions of this Act. 16.

An armaments or item of armament in connection with
which an offence is committed under this Act or any other law
shall, unless the court is of the opinion that the ends of justice
dictate otherwise, be forfeited to the United Republic. 17. An armaments or items of armament which are found in any
building, vessel, aircraft or other conveyance or place without
any apparent owner may, whether any person is charged with
or convicted of any offence in connection with them or not, be
ordered by the court to be forfeited to the Government. 18. A person who contravenes, refuses or fails to comply with
any provision of this Act commits an offence and, where a
penalty is not expressly provided, on conviction shall be liable
to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fifteen years but not
less than seven years or to a fine not exceeding three million
shillings, or to both. Priority of service
to carriers of
armaments
Forfeiture of
armaments
connected with
offence
Forfeiture of
armaments
without apparent
owner
Offences

h. Priority of service
to carriers of
armaments
Forfeiture of
armaments
connected with
offence
Forfeiture of
armaments
without apparent
owner
Offences

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE ARMAMENTS CONTROL ACT [CAP. 246 R.E.

anzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE ARMAMENTS CONTROL ACT [CAP. 246 R.E.

2023]
96
19.–(1) The Minister may make regulations for the better
carrying out of the purposes and provisions of this Act and,
without prejudice to the generality of this subsection, may
make regulations-
(a) prescribing the conditions and terms upon which any
specified facilities or services or categories of facilities
or services within the scope of the functions of the
Board shall be provided to the public and other persons;
(b) providing for the proper management, control and
discharge of the business and affairs of the Board;
(c) prescribing fees, rates and other charges in connection
with the provision of the Board of any services or facilities;
(d) requiring manufacturers, importers or sellers of
armaments, items of armament or their accessories to
keep and produce records and furnish returns to the
Board;
(e) prescribing the procedure for application to be made to
the Board for authorisation under this Act;
(f) prescribing forms for authorisation and other forms to
be used for any purpose under this Act;
(g) prescribing anything which may be prescribed under
this Act; and
(h) providing for any matter which in the opinion of
the Board is necessary to provide for the efficient
performance of the functions of the Board.

nd
(h) providing for any matter which in the opinion of
the Board is necessary to provide for the efficient
performance of the functions of the Board.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), regulations made under this
section shall be published in the Gazette. (3) Where regulations are made which are not of general
application, the Board may, in addition to or in lieu of publication
in the Gazette, publish the regulations in a manner, in the
opinion of the Minister, ensure the contents of the regulations
coming to the notice of the persons or category of persons in
respect of which they apply and of the members of the public
who might be affected by the regulations. Regulations