THE FUGITIVE OFFENDERS (PURSUIT) ACT

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1. This Act may be cited as the Fugitive Offenders (Pursuit)
Act. 2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-
“extradition crime” shall have the meaning ascribed to that
term in the Extradition Act;
“fugitive offender” or “offender” means any person accused
or convicted of an extradition crime committed within the
jurisdiction of any contiguous country to which this Act
applies who is, or is suspected of being, in the United Republic;
“magistrate” means a resident magistrate;
“Minister” means the Minister responsible for legal affairs;
“police” in relation to any contiguous country means a
member of the Police Force established by or under
any law of that country and includes any person having
powers of arrest under any law of that country. 3.

of the Police Force established by or under
any law of that country and includes any person having
powers of arrest under any law of that country. 3.

Where the Minister is satisfied that reciprocal provision has
been or will be made by or under the law of any contiguous
country authorising the police of the United Republic to enter
such country in pursuit of a person who has committed or
is reasonably suspected of having committed an extradition
crime in the United Republic he may, by order published
in the Gazette, declare that this Act shall apply in the case
Short title
Interpretation
Cap. 368
Application of Act
CHAPTER 57
THE FUGITIVE OFFENDERS (PURSUIT) ACT
An Act to make provision for enabling the police of certain contiguous
countries to be authorised to pursue within the United Republic
offenders fugitive from such countries. [1st August, 1969]
[GN. No. 188 of 1969]
Act No. 1 of 1969

be authorised to pursue within the United Republic
offenders fugitive from such countries. [1st August, 1969]
[GN. No. 188 of 1969]
Act No. 1 of 1969

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE FUGITIVE OFFENDERS (PURSUIT) ACT [CAP. 57 R.E. 2023]
2
of that country subject to such conditions, exceptions and
qualifications as may be specified in the order and this Act
shall apply accordingly. 4. Where an order is made under section 3 in respect of any
contiguous country the police of that country may enter such
area of the United Republic as may be defined in the order in
pursuit of any person who has committed, or is reasonably
suspected of having committed, an extradition crime in that
country and may arrest such person within such area. 5. Where the police of any contiguous country, acting under the
powers conferred upon them by this Act, arrests any person,
they shall forthwith deliver the person to a police officer in the
United Republic who shall, as soon as practicable after such
delivery to him, bring such person before a magistrate having
jurisdiction over the area within which such person was arrested.

practicable after such
delivery to him, bring such person before a magistrate having
jurisdiction over the area within which such person was arrested.

6.–(1) Where a fugitive offender is brought before a magistrate
pursuant to the provisions of section 5, and the magistrate
is satisfied that such offender is required by the contiguous
country for the trial of an extradition crime, he may, subject to
such provisions of the Extradition Act as shall apply by virtue
of the provisions of section 7, order the offender to be returned
to the contiguous country from which he is a fugitive and, for
that purpose, to be delivered into the custody of the police of
that country and to be held in custody and conveyed into that
country. (2) The magistrate shall, so far as is requisite for the exercise
of the powers of this section, have the same power, including
the power to remand and admit to bail an offender, as he has
in the case of a person arrested under a warrant issued by him. 7.–(1) The provisions of Part III and Part IV of the Extradition
Act shall apply, mutatis mutandis-
(a) in relation to the return, restrictions on return, escape
from custody and discharge of every fugitive offender
Right of pursuit
Arrested person
to be delivered to
local police
Return of
offender
Cap. 368
Certain
provisions of
Extradition Act to
apply
Cap. 368

r
Right of pursuit
Arrested person
to be delivered to
local police
Return of
offender
Cap. 368
Certain
provisions of
Extradition Act to
apply
Cap. 368

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.3
THE FUGITIVE OFFENDERS (PURSUIT) ACT [CAP. 57 R.E. 2023]
brought before a magistrate under this Act, as if such
offender were a criminal fugitive arrested pursuant to
a warrant or a provisional warrant under section 12 or
13 of the Extradition Act;
(b) to all proceedings before a magistrate under this Act, as
if such proceedings were proceedings under Part III of
the Extradition Act,
and a fugitive offender under this Act shall have the same right
of appeal and the right to apply for directions in the nature
of a writ of habeas corpus as has a fugitive criminal arrested
pursuant to the provisions of Part III of the Extradition Act. (2) The provisions of section 18 and section 19 of the
Extradition Act shall apply in respect of proceedings under
this Act to the same extent as they apply to proceedings under
Part III of the Extradition Act. (3) Rules made under section 22 of the Extradition Act
shall, in so far as they may be applicable, govern appeals to the
High Court under this Act.

t. (3) Rules made under section 22 of the Extradition Act
shall, in so far as they may be applicable, govern appeals to the
High Court under this Act.

8.–(1) Where, in any case which is brought to his attention,
the Minister is of the opinion that the circumstances of the
case so require, he may, at any time before the offender has
been conveyed to the contiguous country concerned, order the
offender to be discharged and upon such order being made the
offender shall forthwith be discharged and any proceedings
against such offender under this Act, pending at the time when
such order is made, shall be discontinued. (2) An order made under this section shall be final and shall
not be subject to review by any court. 9. [Repeals the Fugitive Offenders (Pursuit) Ordinance]
Power of Minister
to order discharge
Repeal
Ord. No. 17 of
1936

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