THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL ACT

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CHAPTER 61
THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL ACT
[PRINCIPAL LEGISLTION]
Arrangement of Sections
Section Title
part i
PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
1. Short title.
2. Application.
3. Interpretation.
part ii
THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
4. Establishment and structure of Council.
5. Functions of Council.
6. Secretariat.
7. Functions of Secretariat.
part iii
SECURITY COMMITTEES
8. Composition of Regional Security Committees.
9. Functions of Regional Security Committees.
10. Composition of District Security Committees.
11. Functions of District Security Committees.
part iv
GENERAL PROVISIONS
12. Offences and penalties.
13. Proceedings of Regional and District Security Committees.
14. Submission of periodic reports to Council.

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116
15. Expenses of Council.
16. Regulations.
part v
CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS
17-21. [Omitted].

.THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL ACT [CAP. 61 R.E. 2023]
116
15. Expenses of Council.
16. Regulations.
part v
CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS
17-21. [Omitted].

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PART I
PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
1. This Act may be cited as the National Security Council Act. 2.–(1) This Act shall apply to Mainland Tanzania as well as
Tanzania Zanzibar. (2) This Act shall not apply to security matters at operational
level except for exigency of public interest and where the
defence and national security organs so advise. 3. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-
“Chairman” means the Chairman of the Council;
“Council” means the National Security Council established
under section 4;
“defence and security organs” means the Tanzania Peoples’
Defence Forces, National Service, Tanzania Police Force,
Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau, Drugs
Control and Enforcement Authority, Fire and Rescue
Forces, Tanzania Prisons Service, Immigration Services
and Tanzania Intelligence and Security Service;
Short title
Application
Interpretation
Act No. 12 of 2019 s.

nia Prisons Service, Immigration Services
and Tanzania Intelligence and Security Service;
Short title
Application
Interpretation
Act No. 12 of 2019 s.

38
CHAPTER 61
THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL ACT
An Act to establish the National Security Council and the defence and
security committees at various administrative hierarchies with a view
to regulating and co-ordinating national security matters; to establish
machinery for individual persons, public and private institutions to co-
operate and participate effectively in matters of defence and national
security and to provide for related matters. [1st December, 2010]
[GN. No. 427 of 2010]
Acts Nos. 8 of 2010
12 of 2019

matters of defence and national
security and to provide for related matters. [1st December, 2010]
[GN. No. 427 of 2010]
Acts Nos. 8 of 2010
12 of 2019

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118
“Minister” means the Minister responsible for the national
security;
“President” means the President of the United Republic of
Tanzania; and
“security” has the meaning ascribed to it under the National
Security Act. PART II
THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
4.–(1) There is hereby established a Council to be known as
the National Security Council. (2) The Council shall consist of the following members:
(a) the President, who shall be the Chairman of the
Council;
(b) the Vice-President;
(c) the President of Zanzibar;
(d) the Prime Minister; and
(e) the Second Vice-President of Zanzibar. (3) The Chief Secretary shall be the Secretary to the Council. (4) The Council may invite any person to its meetings for
the purpose of giving advice on any matter which is the subject
of consideration. (5) The Council may, where circumstances require, form a
Committee for the purpose of performing or undertaking a
specific function or task on its behalf.

The Council may, where circumstances require, form a
Committee for the purpose of performing or undertaking a
specific function or task on its behalf.

5.–(1) The Council shall be the principal advisory organ to the
President on matters relating to the national security. (2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1),
the functions of the Council shall be to-
(a) formulate, establish and oversee core values of the national
security for purposes of protecting and defending
national interests;
(b) review policies of defence, security, foreign affairs and
other policies which relate to national security in view
of prevailing national and international circumstances;
Cap. 47
Establishment
and structure of
Council
Act No. 12 of 2019 s. 39
Functions of
Council

w
of prevailing national and international circumstances;
Cap. 47
Establishment
and structure of
Council
Act No. 12 of 2019 s. 39
Functions of
Council

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THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL ACT [CAP. 61 R.E. 2023]
(c) evaluate the state of national security on short and long
terms and recommend the proper cause of action;
(d) receive and analyse reports relating to the state of
defence and security in the country from the defence
and security organs, Government departments and
institutions, Regional Security Committees and give
directions as appropriate; and
(e) perform any other function as may be assigned by the
President. 6. There shall be the Secretariat to the Council comprising of-
(a) the Chief Secretary who shall be the head and the Co-
ordinator;
(b) two Assistant Co-ordinators from the Tanzania Peoples’
Defence Forces;
(c) two Assistant Co-ordinator from the Tanzania Intelligence
and Security Service;
(d) one Assistant Co-ordinator from the Police Force;
(e) one Assistant Co-ordinator from the Immigration
Department;
(f) one Assistant Co-ordinator from the Tanzania Prisons
Service; and
(g) one Assistant Co-ordinator from the Special departments
of the Government of Zanzibar.

sistant Co-ordinator from the Tanzania Prisons
Service; and
(g) one Assistant Co-ordinator from the Special departments
of the Government of Zanzibar.

7.–(1) The Functions of the Secretariat shall be to-
(a) prepare agenda and take minutes of Council meetings;
(b) analyse and compile various reports from the defence and
security organs and other Government departments and
institutions for submission to the Council for its decision;
(c) coordinate and serve as a focal point for the
administration of activities between the Council,
Government departments and institutions as well as
defence and security organs;
(d) keep and maintain records and control confidentiality
of documents relating to the Council’s activities;
Secretariat
Act No. 12 of 2019 s. 40
Functions of
Secretariat

n records and control confidentiality
of documents relating to the Council’s activities;
Secretariat
Act No. 12 of 2019 s. 40
Functions of
Secretariat

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120
(e) make follow-up and prepare implementation reports of
the Council’s decisions; and
(f) perform any other function as may be assigned to it by
the Council. (2) The Secretariat may co-opt any person during its
meeting for the purposes of giving advice on any matter which
is the subject of consideration. PART III
SECURITY COMMITTEES
8.–(1) There is hereby established the following Security
Committees:
(a) the Regional Security Committees; and
(b) the District Security Committees.

8.–(1) There is hereby established the following Security
Committees:
(a) the Regional Security Committees; and
(b) the District Security Committees.

(2) The Regional Security Committee shall be composed of-
(a) the Regional Commissioner, who shall be the Chairman;
(b) the Regional Administrative Secretary, who shall be the
Secretary;
(c) the Regional Police Commander;
(d) the Commanding Officer of the Tanzania Peoples’
Defence Forces Unit;
(e) the Regional Security Officer;
(f) the Regional Immigration Officer;
(g) the Regional Militia Advisor;
(h) the Regional Prisons Officer;
(i) the Regional Special Department from the Government
of Zanzibar;
(j) the Regional Bureau Chief; and
(k) the Regional Fire and Rescue Officer. (3) The Regional Security Committee may invite any person
to its meeting for the purpose of giving advice on any matter
which is the subject of its consideration except that, the person
shall not have a right to vote. Composition of
Regional Security
Committees
Act No. 12 of 2019 s. 41

ject of its consideration except that, the person
shall not have a right to vote. Composition of
Regional Security
Committees
Act No. 12 of 2019 s. 41

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THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL ACT [CAP. 61 R.E. 2023]
(4) The Regional Security Committee may, where
circumstances require, form a Committee for the purpose of
performing or undertaking a specific function or task on its
behalf. 9.

ommittee may, where
circumstances require, form a Committee for the purpose of
performing or undertaking a specific function or task on its
behalf. 9.

The functions of the Regional Security Committee shall be
to-
(a) receive and analyse security reports from the District
Security Committees, defence and security organs and
take appropriate action;
(b) prepare evaluation reports on defence and security
situation in the Regional for submission to the relevant
authorities within the region;
(c) plan, coordinate and give directions on the manner
of dealing with emergencies such as disasters, famine,
epidemics, floods and major accidents, incidents
like serious crimes, cattle theft, land disputes,
environmental degradation, robbery, sabotage, illegal
immigrants, moral turpitude, illicit drugs including
other occurrences which are likely to endanger peace
and tranquility to the public in the respective Region;
(d) specify and identify social and administrative problems
within the Region which may endanger security and
advise the relevant authority on appropriate measures
or the proper course of action;
(e) consider applications for citizenship and advise the
Minister responsible for citizenship;
(f) consider applications for ownership of arms and
explosives and make decision in accordance with the
existing laws;
(g) evaluate and make follow-up on the status of strategic
reserve levels of food, medicine and fuel and alert the
relevant authorities for their action; and
(h) perform any other function as may be assigned to it by
the relevant authority.

e and fuel and alert the
relevant authorities for their action; and
(h) perform any other function as may be assigned to it by
the relevant authority.

Functions of
Regional Security
Committees

Functions of
Regional Security
Committees

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122
10.–(1) The District Security Committee shall be composed
of-
(a) the District Commissioner, who shall be the Chairman;
(b) the District Administrative Secretary, who shall be the
Secretary;
(c) the Commanding Officer of the Tanzania Peoples’
Defence Forces Unit situated in the respective District;
(d) the District Security Officer;
(e) the District Police Commander;
(f) the District Militia Advisor;
(g) the District Immigration Officer;
(h) the District Prisons Officer;
(i) the District Fire and Rescue Officer;
(j) the District Special Departments from the Government
of Zanzibar; and
(k) the District Bureau Chief. (2) The District Security Committee may invite any person
in its meeting for the purpose of giving advice on any matter
which is the subject of its consideration except that, the person
shall not have a right to vote.

eting for the purpose of giving advice on any matter
which is the subject of its consideration except that, the person
shall not have a right to vote.

(3) The District Security Committee may, where circumstances
require, form a Committee for the purpose of performing or
undertaking a specific function or task on its behalf. 11. The functions of the District Security Committee shall be
to-
(a) prepare plans and strategies for defence and security
and make follow-up for the implementation;
(b) prepare evaluation reports on defence and security
situation in the District for submission to the Secretary
of the Regional Security Committee;
(c) plan, coordinate and give directions on the manner of
dealing with emergencies within the District such as
disasters, epidemics, famine, floods and major accidents
and occurrences like serious crimes, cattle theft, land
disputes, environmental degradation, robbery, piracy,
Composition of
District Security
Committees
Act No. 12 of 2019 s. 42
Functions of
District Security
Committees

ronmental degradation, robbery, piracy,
Composition of
District Security
Committees
Act No. 12 of 2019 s. 42
Functions of
District Security
Committees

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THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL ACT [CAP. 61 R.E. 2023]
looting, poaching, rape, sabotage, illegal immigrants,
illicit drugs, moral turpitude, including other
occurrences which are likely to endanger peace and
tranquility within the respective District;
(d) specify and identify social and administrative problems
within the District which may endanger security
and advise the relevant authority on the appropriate
measures or course of action;
(e) consider applications for citizenship and submit
recommendations to the Regional Security Committee;
(f) consider applications for ownership of arms and
explosives and make decisions in accordance with the
existing laws or advise the Regional Security Committee
on the applications;
(g) evaluate and make follow-up on the status of strategic
reserve levels of food, medicine and fuel and inform
the Regional Security Committee for its action; and
(h) perform any other function as may be assigned by the
relevant authority. PART IV
GENERAL PROVISIONS
12.

nal Security Committee for its action; and
(h) perform any other function as may be assigned by the
relevant authority. PART IV
GENERAL PROVISIONS
12.

A person who, being a member of any Committee referred
to under section 8, divulges any information obtained by virtue
of his membership to the Committee, commits an offence and
on conviction shall be liable to a penalty prescribed for offence
under the relevant law. 13. In the absence of the Chairman, the person presiding
over at the meeting of the Regional Security Committee or
the District Security Committee, shall be a person acting in
that capacity of the Regional Commissioner or the District
Commissioner. Offences and
penalties
Proceedings of
Regional and
District Security
Committees

at capacity of the Regional Commissioner or the District
Commissioner. Offences and
penalties
Proceedings of
Regional and
District Security
Committees

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124
14.–(1) The defence and security committees specified under
this Act shall, on the basis of geographical administrative
hierarchical arrangements, be under the general obligation to
submit to the relevant authorities, quarterly reports on defence
and national security matters. (2) Public and private institutions may be required to
submit reports on any matter which the Council or defence
and security committees considers necessary for defence and
security, group of persons, the community or the general
public. (3) Without prejudice to subsection (2), the Council, the
Regional Security Committees and the District Security
Committees, shall work on a system which shall enable
individual persons, public and private institutions to submit
information and reports relating to matters of concerned to
defence and national security. 15. The expenses incurred by or in respect of the Council at
all levels shall be charged on and paid out of the Consolidated
Fund. 16.

ional security. 15. The expenses incurred by or in respect of the Council at
all levels shall be charged on and paid out of the Consolidated
Fund. 16.

The Minister may make regulations prescribing matters
which are necessary or convenient to be prescribed for better
carrying out or giving effect to the provisions of this Act. PART V
CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS
17-21. [Omitted]
Submission of
periodic reports
to Council
Expenses of
Council
Regulations
Omitted