Public on request
Asset declarations in Tanzania: who declares and whether it is public
Laws
- Public Leadership Code of Ethics Act, Cap. 398 (1995)1
- Public Leadership Code of Ethics (Declaration of Interests, Assets and Liabilities) Regulations, 1996 (1996)2
Who must declare
Public leaders holding the offices listed in section 4(1), including the President, the Vice-President, Ministers, Judges and Magistrates, Members of Parliament and Permanent Secretaries. The President may amend the list by notice in the Gazette.1
What is declared
Property or assets owned by, and liabilities of, the leader, spouse or child, with the monetary value and source of assets (section 9). Section 10 excludes items such as residences, household goods and motor vehicles, and section 11 lists declarable assets such as cash, bank deposits and Treasury Bills. Gifts above two hundred thousand shillings and interests in Government contracts are also declared.1
How often
At the end of each calendar year and at the end of the leader's term of office (section 9(1)).1
Public access
The Ethics Commissioner keeps a register of declarations that is to be made available for inspection by members of the public at all reasonable times (section 23(2)). The Minister may prescribe the manner of inspection by regulations in the Gazette (section 23(3)), and regulations may prescribe fees for inspection (section 34(2)(a)).1
Where to find declarations
Register kept by the Ethics Commissioner at the Ethics Secretariat, an extra-ministerial department under the Office of the President (sections 19 and 23).1
Who verifies
The Ethics Secretariat may make inquiries, physically verify declarations and investigate breaches, and may examine bank accounts with a Commissioner's order backed by a magistrate's warrant (section 19). Suspected false declarations may go to the Ethics Tribunal (section 30(3)).1
Sanctions in law
Breaches of the Code may lead to a warning, demotion, suspension, dismissal, a call to resign or legal action (section 8). Knowingly making a false asset declaration is an offence punishable by a fine of 1,000,000 to 5,000,000 shillings, or imprisonment of up to one year (section 30(2)).1
Checked 28 October 2026.