The Records and Archives Management Act

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CHAPTER 309
THE RECORDS AND ARCHIVES MANAGEMENT ACT
[PRINCIPAL LEGISLATION]
Arrangement of Sections
Section Title
part i
PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
1. Short title.
2. Interpretation.
3. Application.
4. Reckoning of time.
part ii
RECORDS AND ARCHIVES
MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT
5. Establishment of Department.
6. Functions of Department.
7. Records and Archives Management Advisory Board.
8. Director.
part iii
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR PUBLIC RECORDS
AND ARCHIVES
9. Responsibility of heads of public and parastatal offices for records.
10. Responsibility of heads of public and parastatal offices for management of
semi-current records.
11. Responsibility of Director for records and archives.
12. Responsibility of Director for semi-current records.
13. Responsibility of Director for preservation of all public records.
14. Records of local authorities.
15. Places of deposit.
part iv
ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS
16. Thirty years rule.

r preservation of all public records.
14. Records of local authorities.
15. Places of deposit.
part iv
ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS
16. Thirty years rule.

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THE RECORDS AND ARCHIVES MANAGEMENT ACT [CAP. 309 R.E. 2023]
part v
FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
17. Funds and resources of Department.
18. Fees.
19. Accounts.
20. Annual estimates.
part vi
OFFENCES AND PENALTIES
21. Removal, destruction or mutilation.
22. Illegal export.
part vii
LEGAL PROVISIONS
23. Validity of public records.
24. Copyright.
part viii
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
25. Statutory deposit.
26. Private records.
27. Export of historical documents.
28. Regulations.
29. Transitional provisions.
30. Deferment of transfers.
31. Repeals and savings.
SCHEDULE

cords.
27. Export of historical documents.
28. Regulations.
29. Transitional provisions.
30. Deferment of transfers.
31. Repeals and savings.
SCHEDULE

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PART I
PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
1. This Act may be cited as the Records and Archives
Management Act. Short title
CHAPTER 309
THE RECORDS AND ARCHIVES MANAGEMENT ACT
An Act to establish the Records and Archives Management Department to
provide for the proper administration and better management of public
records and archives throughout their life cycle, to repeal the Records
(Disposal) Ordinance, 1931 and the National Archives Act, 1965 and for
connected matters. [1st August, 2002]
[GN. No. 398 of 2002]
Acts Nos.

e Records
(Disposal) Ordinance, 1931 and the National Archives Act, 1965 and for
connected matters. [1st August, 2002]
[GN. No. 398 of 2002]
Acts Nos.

3 of 2002
13 of 2015
WHEREAS it is necessary to improve the arrangements for the life-circle
management of the public records and archives of the United Republic
as an essential component of effective administration and accountable
Government;
AND WHEREAS to ensure that public offices create adequate records of
their actions and transactions, that those records are properly maintained
for so long as there is a continuing need for them;
AND WHEREAS that the disposal of those for which there is not further
need is effected in an authorised and timely manner; and to identify and
safeguard those records which are of enduring value and which should be
preserved as archives and made available for public consultation;
NOW THEREFORE be it enacted:

records which are of enduring value and which should be
preserved as archives and made available for public consultation;
NOW THEREFORE be it enacted:

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THE RECORDS AND ARCHIVES MANAGEMENT ACT [CAP. 309 R.E. 2023]
2.

d. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.574
THE RECORDS AND ARCHIVES MANAGEMENT ACT [CAP. 309 R.E. 2023]
2.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-
“Advisory Board” means the Records and Archives
Management Advisory Board;
“archival repository” means a building or part of a building
in which archives are preserved and made available for
consultation;
“archives” means records of enduring value selected for
permanent preservation;
“current records” means records regularly used for the conduct
of the current business of an institution or individual;
“Department” means the Records and Archives Management
Department established under section 5;
“Director” means the Director of the Records and Archives
Management Department;
“heads of public offices” means ministers or other persons
responsible for directing public offices;
“Minister” means the Minister responsible for the records
and archives management;
“National Archives” means the archival repository in which
archives of the central institutions of the United Republic
are preserved and made available for consultation;
“non-current records” means records no longer needed for
current business;
“place of deposit” means a place appointed as such under
section 15;
“private records” means records other than public records
specified in the Schedule to this Act;
“public office” means any institution, body or individual
which creates, receives or maintains public records;
“public records” means the records specified in the Schedule
to this Act;
“records” means recorded or electronic information
regardless of form or medium created, received and
maintained by any institution or individual in the
pursuance of its legal obligations or in the transaction of
its business and providing evidence of the performance
of those obligations or that business;
Interpretation
Act No.

igations or in the transaction of
its business and providing evidence of the performance
of those obligations or that business;
Interpretation
Act No.

13 of 2015 s. 48

13 of 2015 s. 48

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THE RECORDS AND ARCHIVES MANAGEMENT ACT [CAP. 309 R.E. 2023]
“records centre” means a building designated for the
low-cost storage, maintenance and communication of
semi-current records pending their eventual disposal;
“retention and disposal schedule” means a document
describing the recurring records of an institution or an
administrative unit thereof, specifying which records
should be preserved permanently as having enduring
values as archives and authorising on a continuing basis
and after the lapse of retention periods or the occurrence
of specified actions or events, the disposal by destruction
or other means of the remaining records;
“semi-current records” means records required only
infrequently for the conduct of current business, for
purposes of this Act, files and other assemblies of records
on which no action has been recorded for three years
shall be regarded as semi-current records. 3. This Act shall extend to Tanzania Zanzibar in relation to
records of the Government, Parliament and Court of Appeal
of the United Republic.

ecords. 3. This Act shall extend to Tanzania Zanzibar in relation to
records of the Government, Parliament and Court of Appeal
of the United Republic.

4.–(1) Any period of time specified by this Act shall run from
the first day of January in the next year after that in which the
records were created. (2) Where records created on different dates are for
administrative purposes kept together on one file or other
assembly all the records on that file or assembly shall be treated
for purposes of this Act as having been created when the latest
of those records was created. PART II
RECORDS AND ARCHIVES
MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT
5.–(1) There is hereby established a Records and Archives
Management Department, hereinafter referred to as “the
Department”, for the United Republic. Application
Reckoning of
time
Establishment of
Department

Management Department, hereinafter referred to as “the
Department”, for the United Republic. Application
Reckoning of
time
Establishment of
Department

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THE RECORDS AND ARCHIVES MANAGEMENT ACT [CAP. 309 R.E. 2023]
(2) The Records and Archives Management Department
shall have an official seal of a design approved by the Minister. (3) The seal of the Department shall be kept in the custody of
the Director and may be used for purposes of the Department
and for purposes of any place of deposit for which no separate
seal is provided. (4) The official seal of the Records and Archives Management
Department and any seal provided under this Act for purposes
of any place of deposit shall be judicially noticed. (5) The Department shall be responsible to the Minister,
who shall be advised by the Records and Archives Management
Advisory Board, hereafter referred to as “the Advisory Board”.

esponsible to the Minister,
who shall be advised by the Records and Archives Management
Advisory Board, hereafter referred to as “the Advisory Board”.

6.–(1) The Department shall contribute to the efficiency,
effectiveness and economy of the Government of the United
Republic by-
(a) ensuring that public offices follow good record keeping
practices;
(b) establishing and implementing procedures for the
timely disposal of public records of no continuing
value;
(c) advising on best practices and established standards in
record keeping in the public service; and
(d) establishing and implementing procedures for the
transfer of public records of enduring value for
preservation in the National Archives or such other
archival repository as may have been established under
this Act. (2) The Department shall preserve and make available for
consultation public records selected for preservation in the
National Archives or any other archival repository under the
control of the Director. (3) The Department shall occupy and utilise such buildings
as may be necessary for the discharge of its functions and these
shall include a records centre or centres for the proper keeping
of semi-current records, whereas public offices may set up their
Functions of
Department

ll include a records centre or centres for the proper keeping
of semi-current records, whereas public offices may set up their
Functions of
Department

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THE RECORDS AND ARCHIVES MANAGEMENT ACT [CAP. 309 R.E. 2023]
own records centre for the proper keeping of semi-current
records, subject to the approval of the Director who shall have
a right to inspect such centres. (4) The Department shall be entitled to receive one copy
of every publication produced by the Parliament, Government
and higher courts of the United Republic and of every
publication and dissertation produced on the basis of archival
research carried out in the United Republic, without making
any payment in respect of such publications and dissertations. 7.–(1) There is hereby established a Records and Archives
Management Advisory Board for the Department referred to
in this Act as the Advisory Board.

7.–(1) There is hereby established a Records and Archives
Management Advisory Board for the Department referred to
in this Act as the Advisory Board.

(2) The Advisory Board shall consist of-
(a) a Chairman appointed by the President;
(b) the Director of the Department;
(c) the Director of the National Archives of Zanzibar;
(d) one member representing the Ministry responsible for
finance;
(e) one member representing the Ministry responsible for
legal affairs;
(f) one member representing the Ministry responsible for
education and culture; and
(g) not more than five other members including-
(i) one member from Zanzibar appointed by the
Minister in consultation with the Minister in
Zanzibar responsible for archives; and
(ii) two women members, appointed by the Minister
who have experience and ability in records
management or archival research or such other
experience or qualifications as to enable them
make a useful contribution to the work of the
Advisory Board. (3) The appointed members of the Advisory Board
shall serve for a term of three years and shall be eligible for
re-appointment for one further term. Records and
Archives
Management
Advisory Board

rd
shall serve for a term of three years and shall be eligible for
re-appointment for one further term. Records and
Archives
Management
Advisory Board

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THE RECORDS AND ARCHIVES MANAGEMENT ACT [CAP. 309 R.E. 2023]
(4) The Advisory Board shall be responsible for-
(a) advising the Minister generally on matters relating to
the management of the public records and archives of
the United Republic;
(b) advising and supporting the Director of the Records
and Archives Management Department; and
(c) such other matters as this Act may specifically assign to
it or the Minister may direct. (5) The Advisory Board shall meet as often as it considers
necessary, but not less than once a year, and the quorum of its
meetings shall be seven members. (6) Members of the Advisory Board shall elect one of its
members to be a Vice-Chairman and the Advisory Board shall
regulate its own meetings. (7) Members of the Advisory Board shall be paid such
allowance as may be determined by the Minister in consultation
with the Minister responsible for finance.

ers of the Advisory Board shall be paid such
allowance as may be determined by the Minister in consultation
with the Minister responsible for finance.

8.–(1) There shall be a Director of the Records and Archives
Management Department and the office of the Director
and of other staff of the Records and Archives Management
Department shall be offices in the service of the United
Republic. (2) The Director shall be responsible for-
(a) implementing the general policy established by the
Minister;
(b) management of the day-to-day activities of the
Department; and
(c) such other matters as this Act may specifically assign to
him or the Minister may direct. (3) Within six months after the end of each fiscal year the
Director shall submit to the Minister a report on the activities
of the Department during that year. (4) The Director and any person acting on his behalf or
under his direction who requires to have access to or custody
of public records which are classified as confidential or secret
Director

his behalf or
under his direction who requires to have access to or custody
of public records which are classified as confidential or secret
Director

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THE RECORDS AND ARCHIVES MANAGEMENT ACT [CAP. 309 R.E. 2023]
shall satisfy any security requirements applicable to, and
take any oath of secrecy required to be taken by, person who
normally have access to such public records. PART III
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR PUBLIC
RECORDS AND ARCHIVES
9.

secrecy required to be taken by, person who
normally have access to such public records. PART III
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR PUBLIC
RECORDS AND ARCHIVES
9.

Heads of public offices shall be responsible for creating
and maintaining adequate documentation of the functions
and activities of their respective public offices through the
establishment of good records keeping practices, including-
(a) creating and managing current records within
appropriate filing systems;
(b) drafting retention and disposal schedules relating to
records specific to each public office, with the assistance
of the Director of the Department;
(c) implementing retention and disposal schedules
issued in accordance with paragraphs (d) and (e) of
section 11;
(d) transferring semi-current records into the custody
of the Director, except in so far as they may remain
classified as confidential or secret on grounds of-
(i) national security;
(ii) maintenance of public order;
(iii) safeguarding the revenue; or
(iv) protection of personal privacy,
and deferment of their transfer for a further specified period
has been approved by the Minister by regulation under
section 28; and
(e) appointing a qualified officer who shall be a co-ordinator
of records management activities in the department or
ministry. Responsibility of
heads of public
and parastatal
offices for records

be a co-ordinator
of records management activities in the department or
ministry. Responsibility of
heads of public
and parastatal
offices for records

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THE RECORDS AND ARCHIVES MANAGEMENT ACT [CAP. 309 R.E. 2023]
10.

. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.580
THE RECORDS AND ARCHIVES MANAGEMENT ACT [CAP. 309 R.E. 2023]
10.

Heads of public offices shall be responsible for co-operation
with the Director in the management of semi-current records
and in particular for-
(a) maintaining the integrity of all semi-current records
returned temporarily under paragraph (b) of section 12;
(b) approving access by third parties, other than authorised
personnel of the Department and of the public office
which created them or its successor in function, or as
provided for in subsection (4) of section 6;
(c) maintaining semi-current records whose transfer
has been deferred under paragraph (d) of section 9
in conditions comparable to those provided by the
Director in records centres under his control; and
(d) implementing retention and disposal schedules
relating to semi-current records whose transfer has
been deferred under paragraph (d) of section 9 and
transferring records of enduring value into the custody
of the Director or to such other place of deposit as may
have been appointed under section 15 not later than
twenty years from their creation, except in so far as
further deferment of transfer for a specified period may
have been approved by regulations made in accordance
with section 28. 11.

except in so far as
further deferment of transfer for a specified period may
have been approved by regulations made in accordance
with section 28. 11.

The Director shall be responsible for the co-ordination
of record keeping work in public offices and parastatal
organisation with powers of inspection, and in particular for-
(a) providing professional assistance, advice and guidance
on the establishment and management of filing systems;
(b) establishing and ensuring compliance with standards
for the management of public records;
(c) making arrangements for the necessary training of
records staff in public offices;
(d) drawing up general retention and disposal schedules
for approval and issue by the Minister, which schedules
shall be sufficient authority for taking the action
specified at the due date;
Responsibility of
heads of public
and parastatal
offices for
management
of semi-current
records
Responsibility
of Director for
records and
archives

e;
Responsibility of
heads of public
and parastatal
offices for
management
of semi-current
records
Responsibility
of Director for
records and
archives

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THE RECORDS AND ARCHIVES MANAGEMENT ACT [CAP. 309 R.E. 2023]
(e) agreeing with the heads of public offices retention
and disposal schedules relating to records specific to
each such office for approval and issue by the Minister,
which schedules shall be sufficient authority for taking
the action specified at the due date;
(f) ensuring that the provisions of retention and disposal
schedules are implemented;
(g) authorising the disposal of public records other than as
provided for by retention and disposal schedules; and
(h) ensuring that retention and disposal schedules
are reviewed and amended periodically as may be
necessary, the review of each schedule to take place
ten years after it was issued or earlier, at the Director’s
discretion. 12.

eriodically as may be
necessary, the review of each schedule to take place
ten years after it was issued or earlier, at the Director’s
discretion. 12.

The Director shall accept custody of semi-current records
which have been scheduled for further retention and shall, in
particular-
(a) maintain such records within a records centre and
provide therein-
(i) separate and secure storage accommodation for
the maintenance of semi-current records which
are classified as confidential or secret; and
(ii) facilities for the consultation of semi-current
records by duly authorised officers of the public
office which created them or its successor in
function;
(b) return semi-current records temporarily from his
custody to the public office which created them or
to its successor in function for purposes of current
administration;
(c) implement retention and disposal schedules in respect
of semi-current records in his custody;
(d) appraise and dispose appropriately of semi-current
records which are in his custody and are not covered
by disposal schedules;
Responsibility
of Director for
semi-current
records

iately of semi-current
records which are in his custody and are not covered
by disposal schedules;
Responsibility
of Director for
semi-current
records

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THE RECORDS AND ARCHIVES MANAGEMENT ACT [CAP. 309 R.E. 2023]
(e) arrange the transfer of records of enduring values into
his custody or to such other place of deposit as may
have been appointed under section 15 not later than
twenty years from their creation; and
(f) inspect and advise the Minister on the suitability of
premises in which it is proposed that records whose
transfer has been deferred under section 9(d) should
be held.

e the Minister on the suitability of
premises in which it is proposed that records whose
transfer has been deferred under section 9(d) should
be held.

13.–(1) The Director shall be responsible for the preservation
of all public records of enduring values other than any whose
transfer may have been deferred under paragraph (d) of
section 10 or which are held in a place of deposit appointed
under section 15, and shall, in particular-
(a) take charge of the National Archives;
(b) provide therein and in any other archival repositories
under his control suitable conditions for the
preservation and consultation of their holdings;
(c) arrange and describe those holdings and provide
appropriate guides, lists, indexes and other finding aids
to facilitate access to them;
(d) ensure that reasonable facilities are available to the
public for inspecting and obtaining copies of public
records in the National Archives or any other archival
repository under his control, as such records are open
to inspection under section 16; and
(e) ensure that reasonable facilities are available to duly
authorised officers of the public office which created them
or its successor in function for inspecting and obtaining
copies of public records in the National Archives or any
other archival repository under his control.

ccessor in function for inspecting and obtaining
copies of public records in the National Archives or any
other archival repository under his control.

(2) The Director may do all such things as appear to him
necessary or expedient for maintaining the utility of the
National Archives and any other archival repository under his
control, and may, in particular-
(a) prepare publications, and sell them and other
publications or objects related to the public records;
Responsibility
of Director for
preservation of all
public records

ions, and sell them and other
publications or objects related to the public records;
Responsibility
of Director for
preservation of all
public records

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THE RECORDS AND ARCHIVES MANAGEMENT ACT [CAP. 309 R.E. 2023]
(b) prescribe rules to be observed by those wishing to
consult public records in the National Archives or any
other archival repository under his control;
(c) arrange exhibitions and lend public records for
exhibitions elsewhere subject to conditions which
he may specify, except that loans outside the United
Republic may not be made without the assent of the
Minister on the advice of the Advisory Board;
(d) dispose of public records in his custody if it seems to
him that they are not of enduring value, subject to the
agreement of the head of the public office in which
they were created or its successor in function or of the
Minister on the advice of the Advisory Board;
(e) accept private records for safekeeping and acquire
private records by gift, bequest or deposit; and
(f) enter into arrangements with other institutions for the
joint management of conservation and restoration,
reprographic or other technical facilities.

enter into arrangements with other institutions for the
joint management of conservation and restoration,
reprographic or other technical facilities.

14.–(1) The Director shall establish a network of branch offices
of the Department each serving one or more regions of the
United Republic. (2) The head of each such branch office shall be responsible
to the Director for implementing the general policy of
Government in respect of public records of local authorities in
the regions which that branch office serves. (3) In respect of public records created, received and
maintained by local authorities the responsibilities set out
under sections 9 and 10 shall be those of the heads of such local
authorities and the responsibilities set out under sections 11,
12 and 13 shall be those of the heads of the appropriate branch
offices of the Department. (4) Records centres and archival repositories established
in the regions shall be regarded as being under the control
of the Director of the Records and Archives Management
Department and the public records therein as being in his
custody for purposes of this Act. Records of local
authorities

cords and Archives Management
Department and the public records therein as being in his
custody for purposes of this Act. Records of local
authorities

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THE RECORDS AND ARCHIVES MANAGEMENT ACT [CAP. 309 R.E. 2023]
(5) Where there is no archival repository within the regions
served by a branch office of the Department, the Director may
direct the transfer of archives to the National Archives or to
any other archival repository under his control until such
time as an archival repository to serve those regions may be
established. 15.–(1) Where it appears to the Minister on the advice of the
Advisory Board that a place other than the National Archives
or another archival under the control of the Director-
(a) affords suitable facilities for the safekeeping and
preservation of public records of permanent value and
for their consultation by the public; and
(b) is adequately and independently funded for those
purposes, he may appoint it as a place of deposit for
specified public records. (2) Before the Minister makes such an appointment, and
periodically thereafter, the Director shall inspect the proposed
place of deposit and report to the Minister and the Advisory
Board on its suitability.

eriodically thereafter, the Director shall inspect the proposed
place of deposit and report to the Minister and the Advisory
Board on its suitability.

(3) The authority responsible for the public records in a
place of deposit shall prepare appropriate guides, lists, indexes
and other finding aids to those records and submit copies to
the Director. (4) Where a place of deposit fails to maintain facilities or
to submit copies of its finding aids or ceases to be adequately
funded, the Minister on the advice of the Advisory Board may
revoke its appointment. PART IV
ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS
16.–(1) Subject to any written law prohibiting or limiting the
disclosure of information in any public record, public records
in the National Archives, in any other archival repository under
the control of the Director or in a place of deposit appointed
under section 15, shall be available for public inspection after
Places of deposit
Thirty years rule

f the Director or in a place of deposit appointed
under section 15, shall be available for public inspection after
Places of deposit
Thirty years rule

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THE RECORDS AND ARCHIVES MANAGEMENT ACT [CAP. 309 R.E. 2023]
the expiration of a period of thirty years from their creation,
calculated as prescribed subsection (2) of section 4, except in
so far as a longer or shorter period may have been prescribed
by the Minister by regulations made in accordance with section
28 at the request of the head of the public office which created
the records or its successor in function. (2) At the expiration of the period of thirty years prescribed
in subsection (1), any record which have been classified as
confidential or secret shall cease to be so classified and to be
subject to the National Security Act except in so far as they
may fall into the categories specified in subsection (3) and
a longer period than thirty years has been prescribed under
subsection (1).

o far as they
may fall into the categories specified in subsection (3) and
a longer period than thirty years has been prescribed under
subsection (1).

(3) A longer period than thirty years may be prescribed
under subsection (1) only when there is a continuing need to
restrict public access on grounds of-
(a) national security;
(b) maintenance of public order;
(c) safeguarding the revenue; or
(d) protection of the privacy of living individuals. (4) Public records to which members of the public had
access before transfer into the custody of the Director or to a
place of deposit appointed under section 15 shall continue to
be open to public inspection irrespective of their age. PART V
FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
17. The funds of the Department shall include any sum
which may-
(a) be appropriated by Parliament for purposes of the
Department;
(b) be payable to the Department by way of donations,
gifts or bequests; and
(c) accrue to the Department by way of sales, fees or other
payments for services rendered by the Department. Cap. 47
Funds and
resources of
Department

c) accrue to the Department by way of sales, fees or other
payments for services rendered by the Department. Cap. 47
Funds and
resources of
Department

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THE RECORDS AND ARCHIVES MANAGEMENT ACT [CAP. 309 R.E. 2023]
18. Fees may be charged for the supply of copies, the certification
of copies, the consultation of records and the provision of other
services by the staff of the Department and such fees shall be
as prescribed by regulations made under section 28, under
which it may authorise the remission or reduction of the fees
in prescribed cases. 19.–(1) The Director shall cause to be kept proper books of
accounts and records in respect of the receipt and expenditure
of funds accruing to the Department. (2) The books and accounts of the Department shall
be audited each year by the Office of the Controller and
Auditor-General. 20. The Director shall, not later than three months before the
end of each financial year, prepare and submit to the Minister
details estimates of income and expenditure of the Department
for the next financial year. PART VI
OFFENCES AND PENALTIES
21.

d submit to the Minister
details estimates of income and expenditure of the Department
for the next financial year. PART VI
OFFENCES AND PENALTIES
21.

A person who removes any public record from a public
office without proper authorisation or who destroys any public
record except as provided for in sections 9 to 13 who wilfully
mutilates any public record in a public office, in the National
Archives or any other archival repository under the control of
the Director or in a place of deposit appointed under section
15, commits an offence and on summary conviction, shall be
liable to a fine not exceeding five hundred thousand shillings
or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months
or to both. 22. A person who contravenes the provisions of section 27,
commits an offence and on summary conviction shall be liable
to a fine of five hundred thousand shillings or to imprisonment
Fees
Accounts
Annual estimates
Removal,
destruction or
mutilation
Illegal export

iable
to a fine of five hundred thousand shillings or to imprisonment
Fees
Accounts
Annual estimates
Removal,
destruction or
mutilation
Illegal export

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.587
THE RECORDS AND ARCHIVES MANAGEMENT ACT [CAP. 309 R.E. 2023]
for a term not exceeding twelve months or to both, and the
records or documents shall be put at the disposal of the
Director, who may take them into his custody, whereupon
the provisions of this Act relating to public records shall have
effect on any records which are not already public records. PART VII
LEGAL PROVISIONS
23.–(1) The legal validity of any public record shall not be
affected by its removal under the provisions of this Act, or the
National Archives Act, to the custody of the Director or to a
place of deposit appointed under section 15. (2) A copy of or extract from a public record in the custody
of the Director examined and certified as a true and authentic
copy by an officer authorised by him and bearing the seal
of the Department shall be admissible as evidence in any
proceedings without any further or other proof thereof if the
original record would have been admissible as evidence in
those proceedings.

ence in any
proceedings without any further or other proof thereof if the
original record would have been admissible as evidence in
those proceedings.

24.–(1) In making available for inspection or providing copies
of public records in his custody, the Director shall not be in
breach of any private copyright therein. (2) The provision of copies of public records by the Director
does not involve the transfer of any copyrights therein to the
recipients. (3) The public action of facsimile copies, verbatim transcripts
or literal translations of public records in the custody of the
Director in which copyright of the Government of the United
Republic subsists is prohibited except with the consent of the
Director and subject to such conditions as he may require and
to the payment of such fees as may be prescribed by regulations
made in accordance with section 18. Validity of
public records
Act No. 33 of 1965
Copyright

e payment of such fees as may be prescribed by regulations
made in accordance with section 18. Validity of
public records
Act No. 33 of 1965
Copyright

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.588
THE RECORDS AND ARCHIVES MANAGEMENT ACT [CAP. 309 R.E. 2023]
PART VIII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
25.–(1) Public offices shall deposit in the National Archives
two copies of every publication which they issue. (2) This Act shall not abrogate any existing right of the
Director to receive records under any other provision for
statutory deposit. 26.–(1) Where it appears to the Minister that any private
records, or any part of them, are of national importance, and
that it is in the public interest that they be acquired, he may,
after consultation with the owner of the private records and
subject to the following provisions of this section, acquire
them, or any part of them, and declare them to be public
records. (2) The Minister shall, after consultation with the Minister
responsible for finance, pay full and fair compensation in
respect of the private records so acquired after consultation
with the owner.

the Minister
responsible for finance, pay full and fair compensation in
respect of the private records so acquired after consultation
with the owner.

(3) The amount of compensation shall be payable in such
manner and in such instalments as shall be determined by the
Minister responsible for finance after consultation with the
person entitled to that compensation. (4) The compensation shall constitute a charge on and be
paid out of the Consolidated Fund. 27.–(1) The export from the United Republic of public or
private records which relate to Tanzania and are of historical
value is prohibited except in accordance with the terms of a
licence to export issued by the Director with the approval of
the Minister. (2) A licence issued under the provisions of subsection (1)
shall specify each document to which the licence relates and
contain such conditions as the Director may prescribe. Statutory deposit
Private records
Export of
historical
documents

which the licence relates and
contain such conditions as the Director may prescribe. Statutory deposit
Private records
Export of
historical
documents

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.589
THE RECORDS AND ARCHIVES MANAGEMENT ACT [CAP. 309 R.E. 2023]
(3) For purposes of section 26 and this section, the Director
may establish a register of private records and archives within
the United Republic. 28.–(1) The Minister may make regulations providing for the
better carrying out of the objects and purposes of this Act. (2) All regulations made under this Act shall be issued by
the Minister on the submission of the Director and on the
advice of the Advisory Board. 29. Records and other materials in the custody of the Director
of the National Archives on the day before the coming into
operation of this Act are hereby transferred to the custody
of the Director of the Records and Archives Management
Department subject to any terms and conditions that were
applicable to those records and other materials on that day. 30. The Director may defer the acceptance of transfers
of semi-current records and archives into his custody if
accommodation for them is not available or other arrangements
for their reception cannot be made.

emi-current records and archives into his custody if
accommodation for them is not available or other arrangements
for their reception cannot be made.

31.–(1) The Records (Disposal) Ordinance, and the National
Archives Act, and any rules and regulations made thereunder
are hereby repealed, saving that any rules under the Records
(Disposal) Ordinance, in force at the time of coming into
operation of this Act shall continue in force until superseded
by retention and disposal schedules issued under paragraphs
(d) and (e) of section 11. (2) All references in other Acts and regulations to the
National Archives of the United Republic or to the Director
of the National Archives shall be construed as applying to
the Records and Archives Management Department or to the
Director thereof and all references to the Records (Disposal)
Ordinance, the National Archives Act, shall be construed as
referring to this Act. Regulations
Transitional
provisions
Deferment of
transfers
Repeals and
savings
Ord. No. 7 of 1931
Act No. 33 of 1965
Ord. No. 7 of 1931
Act No. 33 of 1965

lations
Transitional
provisions
Deferment of
transfers
Repeals and
savings
Ord. No. 7 of 1931
Act No. 33 of 1965
Ord. No. 7 of 1931
Act No. 33 of 1965

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.590
THE RECORDS AND ARCHIVES MANAGEMENT ACT [CAP. 309 R.E. 2023]
SCHEDULE
(Made under section 2)
PUBLIC RECORDS
Save for the records of the Public Trustee or of the Administrator-General
which relate to individual trusts or estates, the following are public
records:
1.

r the records of the Public Trustee or of the Administrator-General
which relate to individual trusts or estates, the following are public
records:
1.

The records and archives belonging to the United Republic created,
received and maintained-
(a) in the offices of the President and of the Cabinet;
(b) by any ministry, department, commission, committee, office
or other body under the Government of the United Republic
or by the Minister or any other officer or employee thereof;
(c) by any post representing the Government of the United
Republic outside the country or any officer serving in such a
post;
(d) by any information or unit of the armed forces of the United
Republic or any officer of such a formation or unit;
(e) by the Parliament or Electoral Commission or any committee
or officer thereof;
(f) by the Court of Appeal, High Court or any other court or
tribunal with jurisdiction within the United Republic or by
any Judge, management or other officer of such a court;
(g) by any local authority or officer thereof;
(h) by any predecessor or successor of any of the institution,
body or individual designated in (a) to (g) above;
(i) by any other body or individual so designated by the Minister
by regulations made in accordance with section 28. 2.

esignated in (a) to (g) above;
(i) by any other body or individual so designated by the Minister
by regulations made in accordance with section 28. 2.

The records created, received and maintained-
(a) by any public corporation or parastatal organisation
established by or under any written law other than the
Companies Act or by any official or employee thereof;
(b) by any company or other body corporate established under
the Companies Act in which the Government of the United
Republic or a public corporation or a parastatal organisations
owns fifty percent or more of the issued share capital or by
any official or employee thereof. 3. All public archives within the meaning of the National Archives
Act, in the custody of the National Archives of the United Republic,
including its regional offices, at the time of coming into operation of
this Act. Cap. 212
Cap. 212
Act No. 33 of 1965

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THE RECORDS AND ARCHIVES MANAGEMENT ACT [CAP. 309 R.E. 2023]
4. Any private records-
(a) taken into custody of the Director under the provisions of
section 22;
(b) acquired under the provisions of section 26.

3]
4. Any private records-
(a) taken into custody of the Director under the provisions of
section 22;
(b) acquired under the provisions of section 26.

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