The Regulation of Land Tenure (Established Villages) Act

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CHAPTER 267
THE REGULATION OF LAND TENURE
(ESTABLISHED VILLAGES) ACT
[PRINCIPAL LEGISLATION]
Arrangement of Sections
Section Title
1. Short title.
2. Interpretation.
3. Extinction of certain rights.
4. Claims for compensation.
5. Repealed.
6. Institution of proceedings.
7–10. Repealed.
11. Omitted.
12. Repeal.

ion.
3. Extinction of certain rights.
4. Claims for compensation.
5. Repealed.
6. Institution of proceedings.
7–10. Repealed.
11. Omitted.
12. Repeal.

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1. This Act may be cited as the Regulation of Land Tenure
(Established Villages) Act. 2. In this Act, unless the context requires otherwise-
“High Court” means the High Court of the United Republic of
Tanzania established under Article 108 of the Constitution
of the United Republic of Tanzania;
“Minister” means the Minister responsible for lands;
“Operation Vijiji” means the settlement or re-settlement
of people in villages during and at any time between the
years 1970 and 1977, for the purpose of implementing the
policy of villagisation;
“Tribunal” means the District Land and Housing Tribunal;
“village land” means the land within the boundaries of
any village established as the result of Operation Vijiji,
whether or not, the area has been registered as a village
in accordance with section 22 of the Local Government
(District Authorities) Act. Short title
Interpretation
Acts Nos. 2 of 2002
Sch. 1 of 2013 s.22
Cap. 2
Cap.

nce with section 22 of the Local Government
(District Authorities) Act. Short title
Interpretation
Acts Nos. 2 of 2002
Sch. 1 of 2013 s.22
Cap. 2
Cap.

287
CHAPTER 267
THE REGULATION OF LAND TENURE
(ESTABLISHED VILLAGES) ACT
An Act to regulate land tenure in villages established pursuant to Operation
Vijiji, to provide for the settlement of land disputes and for related matters. [1st January, 1993]
[DPG]
Acts Nos. 22 of 1992
18 of 1995
2 of 2002
1 of 2013

to provide for the settlement of land disputes and for related matters. [1st January, 1993]
[DPG]
Acts Nos. 22 of 1992
18 of 1995
2 of 2002
1 of 2013

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THE REGULATION OF LAND TENURE (ESTABLISHED VILLAGES) ACT [CAP. 267 R.E. 2023]
3.–(1) Subject to the provisions of section 4 of this Act, the
rights to occupy or to use land in accordance with any custom
or rule of customary law existing or held or claimed to be held
by any person in any village land prior to Operation Vijiji, are
hereby extinguished. (2) For the avoidance of doubt, the extinction of rights
under subsection (1) shall not affect a right to-
(a) occupy or to use any village land which was acquired by
any person during or subsequent to Operation Vijiji, in
any village established as the result of Operation Vijiji; or
(b) use or to occupy any land in accordance with any
custom or rule of customary law existing in any village
which was not established as the result of Operation
Vijiji. 4.

ny land in accordance with any
custom or rule of customary law existing in any village
which was not established as the result of Operation
Vijiji. 4.

Where in proceedings instituted in accordance with the
provisions of this Act, it is proved to the satisfaction of the
Tribunal that,-
(a) any person was an occupier of any village land to which
section 3 applies;
(b) the person had made any unexhausted improvements
or added any ascertainable value to the village land
prior to Operation Vijiji; and
(c) the land was not subsequently allocated to that person,
the Tribunal may award compensation as the Tribunal may
think is fair in relation to the value of the unexhausted
improvements or the value added to that land. 5. [Repealed by Act No. 18 of 1995 Sch.]
6. Proceedings under this Act may be instituted in the Tribunal
having jurisdiction over the area in which the dispute arises:
Provided that, where the Customary Leaseholds
(Enfranchisement) Act does not apply, the Minister may for
the purpose of this Act, establish a Tribunal and the Tribunal
Extinction of
certain rights
Act No. 18 of 1995
Sch. Claims for
compensation
Act No. 18 of 1995
Sch. Repealed
Institution of
proceedings
Act No. 18 of 1995
Sch. Cap. 377

in rights
Act No. 18 of 1995
Sch. Claims for
compensation
Act No. 18 of 1995
Sch. Repealed
Institution of
proceedings
Act No. 18 of 1995
Sch. Cap. 377

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE REGULATION OF LAND TENURE (ESTABLISHED VILLAGES) ACT [CAP. 267 R.E. 2023]
552
established shall perform the functions and exercise the powers
of the Tribunal under this Act.
7-10. [Repealed by Act No. 2 of 2002 Sch.]
11. [Omitted].
12. [Repeals the Extinction of Customary Land Rights Order].
Repealed
Omitted
Repeal
GN. No.
88 of 1987