THE TANZANIA RED CROSS SOCIETY ACT

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CHAPTER 66
THE TANZANIA RED CROSS SOCIETY ACT
[PRINCIPAL LEGISLATION]
Arrangement of Sections
Section Title
1. Short title.
2. Application.
3. Interpretation.
4. Re-establishment of Society.
5. Purposes of Society.
6. Governing body of Society.
7. Power to make rules.
8. Offences.
9. Emblem and compliance of usage.
10. Power to make regulations.
11. Transitional Provisions.

g body of Society.
7. Power to make rules.
8. Offences.
9. Emblem and compliance of usage.
10. Power to make regulations.
11. Transitional Provisions.

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1. This Act may be cited as the Tanzania Red Cross Society
Act.1
2. This Act shall apply to Mainland Tanzania as well as
Tanzania Zanzibar. [s. 1A]
3. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-
‘‘Conventions” means the four Geneva Conventions and the
additional Protocols made there under;
“emblem” means the red cross or the red crescent;
“International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement”
means the International Committee of the Red Cross
(ICRC), the International Federation of Red Cross and
Red Crescent Societies and the various national Red Cross
or Red Crescent societies;
“Minister” means the Minister responsible for legal affairs;
“red cross” when used to signify a heraldic emblem, means
an emblem depicting a red cross on white ground;
“the Society” means the Tanzania Red Cross Society
established by section 4. [s. 2]
1 Amended by Act No. 11 of 2019 s. 46
Short title
Act No. 11 of 2019 s. 47
Application
Act No. 11 of 2019 s. 48
Interpretation
Act No. 11 of 2019 s.

]
1 Amended by Act No. 11 of 2019 s. 46
Short title
Act No. 11 of 2019 s. 47
Application
Act No. 11 of 2019 s. 48
Interpretation
Act No. 11 of 2019 s.

47,
49
CHAPTER 66
THE TANZANIA RED CROSS SOCIETY ACT
An Act to provide for establishment of Tanzania Red Cross Society and to
provide statutory protection for the emblems and for matters connected
therewith.1
[7th December, 1962]
Acts Nos. 71 of 1962
11 of 2019

Society and to
provide statutory protection for the emblems and for matters connected
therewith.1
[7th December, 1962]
Acts Nos. 71 of 1962
11 of 2019

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THE TANZANIA RED CROSS SOCIETY ACT [CAP. 66 R.E. 2023]
4.–(1) There shall continue to be established and constituted
the Tanzania Red Cross Society which shall be a member
of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red
Crescent Society, and is recognised as the sole national Red
Cross Society for the United Republic. (2) The society shall be a voluntary aid Society and auxiliary
to the public authorities in accordance with the 1949 Geneva
Conventions and their additional protocols. (3) The Society shall be a body corporate having perpetual
succession and a common seal capable of suing and being
sued and have the power of holding, purchasing and otherwise
acquiring, and disposing of property both movable and
immovable. [s.

e of suing and being
sued and have the power of holding, purchasing and otherwise
acquiring, and disposing of property both movable and
immovable. [s.

3]
5.–(1) The purposes of the Society shall be-
(a) in time of war, to furnish aid to the sick and wounded
both of armies and among non-belligerents, and to
prisoners of war and civilian sufferers from the effects
of war;
(b) in time of peace or war, to carry on and assist in work
for the improvement of health, the prevention of
disease and the mitigation of suffering throughout the
world;
(c) to do things necessary, advantageous or convenient
to or in connection with the better carrying out of the
purposes of the Society. (2) In carrying out the purposes for which it is established,
the Society shall make no distinction between persons which is
based on any ground relating to race, nationality, sex, religion
or political opinion. [s. 4]
6.–(1) The governing body of the Society shall be an Executive
Committee consisting of not more than thirty members of the
Society appointed or elected in a manner as may be determined
by the Executive Committee. Re-establishment
of Society
Act No. 11 of 2019 s. 50
Purposes of
Society
Governing body
of Society

er as may be determined
by the Executive Committee. Re-establishment
of Society
Act No. 11 of 2019 s. 50
Purposes of
Society
Governing body
of Society

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212
(2) The Executive Committee may provide for the
organisation of divisions and branches of the Society in
Tanzania as may seem expedient for the more effectual carrying
out of the purposes of the Society. [s. 5]
7.–(1) The Executive Committee may make rules as it appears
to be necessary or expedient for the government and conduct
of the Society and in particular, but without prejudice to the
generality, may make rules providing for-
(a) the organisation and functions of branches and
divisions of the Society;
(b) the appointment and duties of officers of the Society;
(c) the custody of the property of the Society and the
keeping and auditing of accounts;
(d) the use of the Red Cross emblem and badge by officers
and members of the Society;
(e) the qualifications and functions of the members of the
Society and their organisation into groups.

d badge by officers
and members of the Society;
(e) the qualifications and functions of the members of the
Society and their organisation into groups.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 37 of the
Interpretation of Laws Act, it shall not be necessary for rules
made under this section to be published in the Gazette. (3) The provisions of paragraph (e) of section 32 of the
Interpretation of Laws Act shall not apply in respect of rules
made under this section. [s. 6]
8.–(1) A person who, falsely and with intent to deceive or
defraud-
(a) holds himself out to be a member of or an agent for
the Society for the purpose of soliciting, collecting or
receiving money or other property; or
(b) wears or displays the emblem or any colourable
imitation thereof for the purpose of inducing the belief
that he is a member of or an agent for the Society or
that he has been recognised by the Society as possessing
Power to make
rules
Cap. 1
Cap. 1
Offences
Act No. 11 of 2019 s. 51

agent for the Society or
that he has been recognised by the Society as possessing
Power to make
rules
Cap. 1
Cap. 1
Offences
Act No. 11 of 2019 s. 51

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THE TANZANIA RED CROSS SOCIETY ACT [CAP. 66 R.E. 2023]
any qualification for administering first-aid or other
treatment for injury or sickness,
commits an offence and on conviction shall be liable to a fine
of not less than one million but not exceeding two million
shillings or to imprisonment for a term of not less than three
years but not exceeding five years or to both. (2) Where an offence contemplated in this section has been
committed for which any corporate body is or was liable to
prosecution, a person who was, at the time of the commission
of the offence, a director or a member of the management of the
corporate body and who knew of or could have prevented the
commission of the offence, commits an offence, either jointly
with the corporate body or part there from, and on conviction
shall be liable to the punishment provided for in this section. [s. 7]
9.–(1) The emblem of the Red Cross and Red Crescent are
protected in the manner provided for in this Act and in the
Conventions.

this section. [s. 7]
9.–(1) The emblem of the Red Cross and Red Crescent are
protected in the manner provided for in this Act and in the
Conventions.

(2) The emblem may only be used-
(a) as a sign that persons and equipment fall under
protection of the Conventions;
(b) to show that persons or equipment are connected to the
International Red Cross and Red Crescent movement;
(c) with the authorisation of the Minister responsible
for defense in respect of personnel and equipment of
Tanzania Peoples Defense Forces; or
(d) in the manner as otherwise authorised by regulations
made by the Minister in that regard. (3) Subject to subsection (2), the Minister shall ensure
compliance and take appropriate measures to prevent any
misuse of the emblem. (4) The Society, in the performance of its functions shall-
(a) cooperate with the Minister responsible for defense;
(b) inform that Minister of any misuse of the emblem
which has come to its knowledge: and
Emblem and
compliance of
usage
Act No. 11 of 2019 s. 52

nse;
(b) inform that Minister of any misuse of the emblem
which has come to its knowledge: and
Emblem and
compliance of
usage
Act No. 11 of 2019 s. 52

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214
(c) cooperate with the Government and other authorities
in proceedings relating to the use or misuse of the
emblem. [s. 7A]
10. The Minister may make regulations or rules for better
carrying out of the provisions of this Act. [s.

to the use or misuse of the
emblem. [s. 7A]
10. The Minister may make regulations or rules for better
carrying out of the provisions of this Act. [s.

7B]
11.–(1) Upon the date of coming into operation of this Act, the
former Branch shall be dissolved and-
(a) assets and liabilities of the former Branch shall be
transferred to and vest in the Society without further
assurance and the Society shall have powers necessary
to take possession of recover and deal with such assets
and discharge such liabilities;
(b) an agreement, whether in writing or not, and a deed,
bond or other instrument to which the former Branch
was a party or which affected the former Branch,
and whether or not of such a nature that the rights,
liabilities and obligations under the agreement could be
assigned, shall have effect as if the Society were a party
to or affected by that agreement instead of the former
Branch and as if, for a reference, however worded and
whether express or implied, in the agreement to the
former Branch there were substituted in respect of
anything to be done on or after the date of coming into
operation, a reference to the Society;
(c) proceedings pending immediately before the date of
coming into operation to which the former Branch was
a party shall be continued as if the Society was a party
to the proceedings thereto in lieu of the former Branch;
(d) the Executive Committee of the former Branch shall
become the Executive Committee of the Society and
continue until further provision in that behalf is made
under section 6;
Power to make
regulations
Act No.

the Executive Committee of the Society and
continue until further provision in that behalf is made
under section 6;
Power to make
regulations
Act No.

11 of 2019 s. 52
Transitional
Provisions

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THE TANZANIA RED CROSS SOCIETY ACT [CAP. 66 R.E. 2023]
(e) officers of the former Branch shall become the
corresponding officers of the Society and, subject to
the provisions of any rules made under section 7, shall
continue in office for the period for which they were
appointed or elected as officer of the former Branch.
(2) In this section “the former Branch” means the Tanganyika
Branch of the British Red Cross Society.
[s. 8]

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