THE NATIONAL EMBLEMS ACT

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CHAPTER 10
THE NATIONAL EMBLEMS ACT
[PRINCIPAL LEGISLATION]
Arrangement of Sections
Section Title
part i
PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
1. Short title.
2. Interpretation.
part ii
THE NATIONAL FLAG AND THE COAT OF ARMS
3. National Flag.
4. Coat of Arms.
5. Power of President to modify National Flag or Coat of Arms.
6. Unlawful use of National Flag, Coat of Arms or any likeness thereof.
7. Insulting National Flag or Coat of Arms.
8. Consent to prosecute.
9. Repeal.
part iii
THE PUBLIC SEAL
10. Proclamation of Public Seal.
11. Custody of Public Seal.
12. Authentication.
SCHEDULES

. Consent to prosecute.
9. Repeal.
part iii
THE PUBLIC SEAL
10. Proclamation of Public Seal.
11. Custody of Public Seal.
12. Authentication.
SCHEDULES

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CHAPTER 10
THE NATIONAL EMBLEMS ACT
An Act to prescribe the National Flag, the Coat of Arms, the Public Seal and
to control and regulate their use. [9th December, 1962]1
[7th May, 1971]
R.L. Cap. 504
Act No. 15 of 1971
1 NOTE: This Act is a Consolidation of the National Flag and Coat of Arms Act
No. 15 of 1971 and the Public Seal Act (R.L. Cap. 504), Parts I and II relate to the
National Flag and Coat of Arms and came into force on the 7th May, 1971, Part III
relates to the Public Seal and came into force on the 9th December, 1962. PART I
PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
1. This Act may be cited as the National Emblems Act. 2.

the Public Seal and came into force on the 9th December, 1962. PART I
PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
1. This Act may be cited as the National Emblems Act. 2.

In this Act unless the context otherwise requires-
“Coat of Arms” means the Coat of Arms of the United
Republic of the likeness specified in the Second Schedule
to this Act and includes any emblem, seal, insignia or
ensign of the United Republic;
“likeness” includes a photographic or pictorial reproduction,
a sketch, a painting or any other form of reproduction or
representation and of any size or shape;
“Minister” means the Minister responsible for home affairs;
“National Flag” means a flag of the description as specified
in the First Schedule to this Act; and
“Public Seal” means a seal of the description as specified in
the Third Schedule to this Act. Short title
Interpretation

rst Schedule to this Act; and
“Public Seal” means a seal of the description as specified in
the Third Schedule to this Act. Short title
Interpretation

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THE NATIONAL EMBLEMS ACT [CAP. 10 R.E. 2023]
PART II
THE NATIONAL FLAG AND THE COAT OF ARMS
3. With effect from the 26th April 1964, the National Flag of the
United Republic shall be of the description as specified in the
First Schedule. 4. With effect from the 26th April 1964, the Coat of Arms of the
United Republic shall be of the description as specified in the
Second Schedule. 5. The President may, by Proclamation, amend the First or the
Second Schedule to this Act to modify the National Flag or, the
Coat of Arms. 6.–(1) A person shall not use the National Flag, the Coat of
Arms or any likeness of the National Flag or of the Coat of
Arms-
(a) as a trade mark for any article sold or offered for sale;
(b) in furtherance of or as an advertisement for any trade,
business, industry, calling or profession;
(c) on any article which is sold, offered for sale or intended
to be sold or offered for sale; or
(d) on any article which is used by any person otherwise
than for a purpose approved by the Minister.

e or intended
to be sold or offered for sale; or
(d) on any article which is used by any person otherwise
than for a purpose approved by the Minister.

(2) The Minister may, by writing under his hand, exempt
any person or class of persons or any article or category of
articles from any or all of the provisions of subsection (1),
subject to such terms and conditions as the Minister may think
fit to impose. (3) A person who contravenes the provisions of subsection
(1) or, being a person to whom the provisions of subsection
(2) apply, contravenes any of the terms or conditions imposed
by the Minister, commits an offence and on conviction shall be
liable to a fine not exceeding twenty thousand shillings or to
imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both. National Flag
Coat of Arms
Power of
President to
modify National
Flag or Coat of
Arms
Unlawful use of
National Flag,
Coat of Arms
or any likeness
thereof

ional Flag
Coat of Arms
Power of
President to
modify National
Flag or Coat of
Arms
Unlawful use of
National Flag,
Coat of Arms
or any likeness
thereof

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.310
THE NATIONAL EMBLEMS ACT [CAP. 10 R.E. 2023]
7. A person who does any act or utters any word or publishes
any writing with intent to insult or bring into contempt or
ridicule the National Flag or Coat of Arms of the United
Republic of Tanzania or of any likeness thereof, commits an
offence and on conviction shall be liable to a fine not exceeding
twenty thousand shillings or to imprisonment for a term not
exceeding two years or to both. 8. A person shall not be prosecuted for an offence under this
Act without the consent in writing of the Director of Public
Prosecutions. 9. [Repeals the Penal Code s. 124A]
PART III
THE PUBLIC SEAL
9th December, 1962
10.–(1) With effect from the 26th April, 1964 the Public Seal
shall be of the description as specified in the Third Schedule
to this Act. (2) The President may, by Proclamation, prescribe any other
form of the Public Seal.

f the description as specified in the Third Schedule
to this Act. (2) The President may, by Proclamation, prescribe any other
form of the Public Seal.

11.–(1) The President may appoint a person holding office in
the service of the United Republic to be the Custodian of the
Public Seal and may give directions as to the manner in which
it shall be kept and used. (2) In default of any appointment under subsection (1), the
President shall be the Custodian of the Public Seal. 12. Whenever the Public Seal is affixed to any document or
other thing, the affixing of the Public Seal shall be authenticated
by the signature of the Custodian of the Public Seal. Insulting
National Flag or
Coat of Arms
Consent to
prosecute
Repeal
Cap. 16
Proclamation of
Public Seal
Custody of Public
Seal
Authentication

ic Seal. Insulting
National Flag or
Coat of Arms
Consent to
prosecute
Repeal
Cap. 16
Proclamation of
Public Seal
Custody of Public
Seal
Authentication

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THE NATIONAL EMBLEMS ACT [CAP. 10 R.E. 2023]
FIRST SCHEDULE
(Made under section 3)
DESIGN OF NATIONAL FLAG
A rectangular flag divided into two equal portions diagonally from
the right-hand upper corner to the left-hand lower corner; the upper
portion of green colour and the lower portion of blue colour; the
dividing bands being of golden, black and golden collars; the two
golden bands of equal size and smaller than the central black band; of
the following design:
GREEN
GOLDEN
GOLDEN
BLACK
BLUE
SECOND SCHEDULE
(Made under section 4)
DESIGN OF COAT OF ARMS

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THE NATIONAL EMBLEMS ACT [CAP. 10 R.E. 2023]
THIRD SCHEDULE
(Made under section 10)
DESIGN OF PUBLIC SEAL