This Country Profile provides a basic overview of the legal history and institutional structures of the United Republic of Tanzania (Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), based on research produced by GlobaLex at NYU Law School and the Library of Congress. Under Tanzania's Constitution, Islamic law (sharīʿa or fiqh) has some legal status.
Country Background
Tanzania is a country located in the Great Lakes region in Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean. It is bounded by Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, and Kenya. The official capital of Tanzania was changed to Dodama in 1996. However, Dar es Saalam remains the de-facto capital, and the offices of the executive branch and diplomatic offices remain in that city. The official languages are English and Swahili (Kiswahili). The country's population in 2017 was approximately 54 million. Tanzania is a predominantly Christian country, with about 61% of the population Christian. Islam is the largest minority religion in the country, and Muslims make up about 35% of the country's population. In the Zanzibar region, over 99% of the population is Muslim.
Constitution & Legal Structure
Tanzania is referred to as a presidential republic, in which sovereignty belongs to the people and the Constitution is the supreme law of the land. The current Constitution of Tanzania was ratified in 1977, and was most recently amended in 1995. The system of government is based on principles of separation and checks and balances and has three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The legal system of Tanzania is an English common law system and is influenced by customary laws/traditions.
Constitutional Status of Islamic Law
Islamic law has some constitutional status in Tanzania. Islamic law is included under the umbrella of customary law, which was established under section 9 of the Judicature and Applications of Laws Act.
Jurisdiction(s) of Islamic Law
Islamic law has some official jurisdiction of operation in Tanzania. Islamic law is applicable to Muslims under the Judicature and Applications of Laws Act, empowering courts to apply Islamic law to matters of succession in communities that generally follow Islamic law in matters of personal status and inheritance.
Dominant School of Islamic Law
Tanzania has no official school of Islamic law. The majority of the Muslim population in the country is Sunnī (adhering to the Shāfiʿī school), and there are large Shīʿī and Aḥmadī populations as well.
Sources of Law for Legal Research
Official Publications
Unofficial Databases
References:
For an extended list of legal resources for this country, see the Library of Congress’s Research Guide, and for a narrative review, see the GlobaLex Foreign Law Research Guide (most updated version, where available). The Constitution is available in the LOC Guide in its original language and at Constitute in English. For full versions of past constitutions, amendments, and related legislation, see HeinOnline World Constitutions Illustrated or Oxford Constitutions of the World [subscription required for each].