THE PUBLIC HOLIDAYS ACT

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CHAPTER 35
THE PUBLIC HOLIDAYS ACT
[PRINCIPAL LEGISLATION]
Arrangement of Sections
Section Title
1. Short title.
2. Public holidays.
3. Alteration or addition of public holiday.
4. Right to open public offices and require attendance
of public servants and Government employees.
5. Repealed.
SCHEDULE

addition of public holiday.
4. Right to open public offices and require attendance
of public servants and Government employees.
5. Repealed.
SCHEDULE

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.244
CHAPTER 35
THE PUBLIC HOLIDAYS ACT
An Act to make provision for public holidays and for related matters. [8th October, 1920]
Ords. Nos. 2 of 1920
10 of 1938
31 of 1960
43 of 1961
Acts Nos. 21 of 1962
57 of 1964
28 of 1966
1 of 1993
10 of 1994
12 of 1998
GNs. Nos. 79 of 1977
300 of 1985
296 of 1994
451 of 2002
486 of 2022
1. This Act may be cited as the Public Holidays Act. 2. The days set out in the Schedule to this Act shall, in every
year, be observed as public holidays. 3. The President may, by proclamation, declare any day to be
a public holiday in addition to the days set out in the Schedule
or in substitution for any of them and thereupon, such day
shall be a public holiday as if it were set out in the Schedule. 4. It shall be lawful for the head of any Government department
to open the offices and works thereof and to call any persons
employed in such department to perform such of their duties
on a public holiday as he may deem fit. [s. 5]
5. [Repealed by R.L. Cap. 430 s. 29.]
[s. 6]
Short title
Public holidays
Ord. No. 10 of 1938 s.

duties
on a public holiday as he may deem fit. [s. 5]
5. [Repealed by R.L. Cap. 430 s. 29.]
[s. 6]
Short title
Public holidays
Ord. No. 10 of 1938 s.

2
Alteration or
addition of public
holiday
Ord. No. 10 of 1938 s. 3
Right to open
public offices
and require
attendance of
public servants
and Government
employees
Act No. 12 of 1998 Sch. Repealed

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THE PUBLIC HOLIDAYS ACT [CAP. 35 R.E. 2023]
SCHEDULE
(Made under section 2)
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
New Year’s Day-1st January.
Revolution Day-12th January.
Id-ul-Fitr-two days.
Good Friday.
Easter Monday.
Id-el-Haj-one day.
Union Day-26th April.
International Workers’ Day-1st May.
Maulidi Day.
Peasants’ Day-8th August.
The Mwalimu Nyerere Day and the Climax of the Uhuru Tourch Race-
14th October.
Independence and Republic Day-9th December.
Christmas Day-25th December.
Boxing Day-26th December.

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.