National Environment Management Act

Jurisdiction
Tanzania
Citation
Chapter 191
Date
31 July 2002
Language
English
Type
Legislation
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Tanzania

National Environment Management Act

Chapter 191

  • Published in Tanzania Government Gazette
  • Commenced on 15 October 1983
  • [This is the version of this document at 31 July 2002.]
  • [Note: This legislation has been thoroughly revised and consolidated under the supervision of the Attorney General's Office, in compliance with the Laws Revision Act No. 7 of 1994, the Revised Laws and Annual Revision Act (Chapter 356 (R.L.)), and the Interpretation of Laws and General Clauses Act No. 30 of 1972. This version is up-to-date as at 31st July 2002.]
[G.N. No. 157 of 1983; Act No. 19 of 1983]An Act to provide for the establishment of the National Environment Management Council, to provide for its functions and for other matters related to and incidental to the establishment of that Council.

Part I – Preliminary (ss. 1-2)

1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the National Environment Management Act.

2. Interpretation

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—"beneficial use" means a use of the environment or of any part thereof that is conductive to human benefit, welfare, safety or health;"Chairman" means the Chairman of the Council;"conservation" means any act or a combination of acts, processes or procedures aimed at the protection, development and control of the environment, or the elimination, minimisation or prevention of harm to the environment as a result of biological, chemical, economic, physical or social development activity;"Council" means the National Environment Management Council established by section 3;"Director-General" means the Director-General of the Council appointed under section 6;"environment" means the land, water and atmosphere of the earth;"Minister" means the Minister responsible for environmental matters;"pollution" means any direct or indirect contamination or alteration of any part of the environment so as to—(a)affect any beneficial use adversely; or(b)cause a condition that is detrimental or hazardous or likely to be detrimental or hazardous to—(i)human health, safety or welfare;(ii)animals, plants or microbes; or(iii)property,caused by emitting anything.

Part II – The National Environment Management Council (ss. 3-12)

3. Establishment of Council

(1)There is hereby established a Council which shall be known as the National Environment Management Council.
(2)The Council shall be a body corporate and shall—
(a)have perpetual succession and an official seal;
(b)in its corporate name, be capable of suing and being sued;
(c)subject to this Act, be capable of holding, purchasing or acquiring in any other way, any movable or immovable property, and of disposing of any of its property for the purpose of carrying out the functions conferred on the Council by this Act.
(3)The provisions of the Schedule to this Act shall have effect as to the constitution and the procedure of the Council and to other matters in relation to it.
(4)Except for the provisions relating to the appointment of the Chairman, the Minister may, by order published in the Gazette amend, add to, vary, revoke or replace any of the provisions of the First Schedule.
(5)The Council may with the approval of the Minister co-opt any additional members for a specified meeting or other purpose but no co-opted member shall have the right to vote.

4. Functions of the Council

The functions of the Council shall be to advise the Government on all matters relating to the environment, and in particular the Council shall—
(a)formulate policy on environmental management and recommend its implementation by the Government;
(b)co-ordinate the activities of all bodies concerned with environmental matters and serve as a channel of communication between these bodies and the Government;
(c)evaluate existing and proposed policies and the activities of the Government directed to control of pollution and the enhancement of the environment and to the accomplishment of other objectives which affect the quality of the environment and, on the basis of that, formulate policies and programmes which will achieve more effective management and enhancement of environmental quality;
(d)recommend measures to ensure that Government policies, including those for the development and conservation of natural resources, take adequate account of environmental effects;
(e)foster co-operation between the Government, local authorities and other bodies engaged in environmental programmes;
(f)stimulate public and private participation in programmes and activities for the national beneficial use of natural resources;
(g)seek advancement of scientific knowledge of changes in the environment and encourage the development of technology to prevent or minimise adverse effects that endanger man's health and well-being;
(h)specify standards, norms and criteria for the protection of beneficial uses and the maintenance of the quality of the environment;
(i)establish and operate a system of documentation and dissemination of information relating to the environment;
(j)formulate proposals for legislation in the area of environmental issues and recommend their implementation by the Government;
(k)establish and maintain liaison in other national and international organisations in respect of issues and matters relating to environmental protection and management;
(l)undertake or promote general environmental educational programmes for the purpose of creating an enlightened public opinion regarding the environment and the role of the public in its protection and improvement;
(m)perform such other functions as the Minister may assign to the Council, or as are incidental or conducive to the exercise by the Council of all or any of the preceding functions.
(3)For the purposes of the better performance of its functions the Council shall establish and maintain a system of collaboration, consultation and co-operation with any person or body of persons established by or under by written law and having functions related to those specified in subsection (1) or which relate to environmental management or environmental matters generally.[Please note: numbering as in original.]

5. General powers of the Council

The Council may, for the purposes of carrying out its functions under this of the Act, do all such acts as appear to it to be requisite, advantageous or convenient for or in connection with the carrying out of those functions or to be incidental to their proper performance and may carry on any activities in that behalf either alone or in association with any other person or body of persons.

6. Director of environment protection

(1)There shall be a Director-General of the Council who shall be appointed by the President on such terms and conditions as the President may determine and who shall also act as Secretary to the Council.
(2)The Director-General shall be the chief executive officer of the Council and shall, subject to the provisions of this Act and any directions which may be given to him by the Minister or the Council, be responsible for the implementation of all the decisions of the Council and carrying out all day to day activities of the Council.

7. Duties of the Director

Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (2) of section 6, it shall be the duty of the Director, under the direction of the Council—
(a)to consider means and initiate steps for the protection of the environment and for preventing, controlling, abating or mitigating pollution;
(b)to carry out investigations into the problems of environmental management;
(c)to obtain the advice of persons having special knowledge, experience, or responsibility in regard to environmental management;
(d)to keep under review the progress made in the pursuance of the objects and purposes of the Act and to publish reports and provide information for the purpose of enhancing public awareness of such progress and of the problems and remedies that exist in relation to the management of the environment;
(e)to promote, encourage, co-ordinate, and carry out short-term and long-term planning and projects in environmental management and protection together with or separate from other public bodies and other organs; and
(f)generally, to administer and give effect to the provisions of this Act and to carry out other functions as may be prescribed by the Council.

8. Appointment

(1)The Council may appoint on such terms and conditions as it may determine, such number of persons to serve as officers of the Council as it may consider National appropriate or necessary for the performance of the functions of the Council.
(2)The Council may engage either temporarily or on such terms as it may think fit persons who are experts in matters relating to environment.

9. Delegation of powers of appointment

The Council may, subject to such conditions as it may impose, delegate to any person or body of persons the power of appointing persons to any office or offices of the Council.

10. Committees

(1)Subject to the approval of the Minister, the Council may, from time to time establish such committees as it may consider necessary for the purpose of facilitating the carrying out of the objectives of the Council.
(2)The Council shall prescribe the composition, powers, duties and procedure of all committees and subject to the provisions of this Act, may delegate to any such committee and of its powers or functions.
(3)The Council may appoint on any committee established under this section any person notwithstanding that that person is not a member of the Council but any person so appointed shall have no right to vote:Provided that in no case shall the number of members of any committee who are not also members of the Council exceed one third of the total number of the members of a Committee.

11. Council may call for information

(1)The Council may require in writing any person or body of persons engaged in research, or engaged in an activity affecting or relating to the environment within Tanzania, to furnish to it such information relating to that research or activity as the Council may specify.
(2)Every person who or body of persons which, is required to furnish information under subsection (1), shall comply with the requirement and any person or body of persons which refuses or fails to comply with that requirement commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding five thousand shillings.

12. Minister may give directions

The Minister may give to the Council directions of a general or specific character regarding the performance by the Council, of any of its functions under this Act, and the Council shall give effect to every direction given to it.

Part III – Financial provisions (ss. 13-17)

13. Funds of the Council

(1)The funds and resources of the Council shall consist of—
(a)such sums as may be provided for that purpose to the Council by Parliament, either by way of grant or loan;
(b)such donations, grants, bequests and loans as the Council may, from time to time receive from any person or organisation;
(c)any sums or property which may vest in the Council under this Act or any other written law or which may vest in the Council in any other manner in the performance of its functions.
(2)The funds and resources of the Council shall be applied for the purposes for which the Council is established under this Act.

14. Power of Minister to impose duty

(1)If the Minister considers it necessary in the public interest he may, after consultation with the Minister responsible for finance, by order published in the Gazette, impose a duty payable to the council by any person or body of persons benefiting from the activities of the Council or whose activities affect the activities of the Council, and every such person or body of persons specified in the Order, shall take all necessary measures to pay to the Council such amount of duty and in such manner as may be specified in the order.
(2)Every amount of duty required to be paid under subsection (1) shall be paid by the specified person or body of persons, and the amount so payable shall be a debt due to the Council and may be recovered from the specified person or body of persons as a civil debt by a suit at the instance of the Director-General or any person authorised by him in that behalf.
(3)Where any amount of duty is due from any specified person or body of persons, the Director-General may file in a court of a Resident Magistrate having jurisdiction over the area in which the specified person or body of persons carries on business, a certificate stating—
(a)the name and address of the specified person or body of persons from whom the amount is due; and
(b)the amount due,
and upon the certificate being lodged in court the certificate shall be deemed to be a plaint duly lodged under Order XXXV of the Civil Procedure Code1 and the court shall proceed in the matter in accordance with the provision of that Order, and in the event of a judgment being given in favour of the plaintiff the court shall pass a decree for payment by the defendant to the Council of the amount found due together with interest on that amount at five per centum per month from the date on which the certificate was filed until payment.1Cap. 33
(4)The provisions of subsection (3) shall apply notwithstanding that the amount involved exceeds the pecuniary jurisdiction of a court of a Resident Magistrate.
(5)Every certificate filed in a court of Resident Magistrate pursuant to the provisions of subsection (3) shall, unless the contrary is proved, be conclusive evidence of the truth of the statements contained in that certificate.

15. Council may charge fees

For the purposes of the better and proper performance of its functions the Council may, subject to any directions which the Minister may give in that behalf, charge fees for any service rendered by it or by any of its committees.

16. Annual estimates

(1)The Director-General shall, in respect of each financial year, cause to be prepared estimates of the expenditure and revenue of the Council and those estimates shall be approved by the Council before the commencement of the relevant financial year.
(2)If in any financial year the Council requires to make any disbursement not provided for or of any amount in excess of the amount provided for in the annual budget for that year, the Council shall at a meeting pass a supplementary budget detailing, that disbursement.
(3)The annual budget and every supplementary budget shall be in such form and include such details as the Minister may direct.
(4)Immediately upon passing any annual budget or any supplementary budget the Council shall submit to the Minister for his approval that annual budget or that supplementary budget.
(5)The Minister shall, upon receipt of the annual budget or any supplementary budget, approve or disapprove it or may approve it subject to such amendment as he may deem fit.
(6)Where the Minister has approved any annual budget or any supplementary budget, the annual budget, or as the case may be, the supplementary budget, shall be binding on the Council which, subject to subsection (7), shall confine the disbursements of the Council within the items and amounts contained in the applicable estimates as approved by the Minister.
(7)The Council may—
(a)with the sanction in writing of the Minister, make a disbursement notwithstanding that the disbursement is not provided for in any budget;
(b)adjust expenditure limits to take account of circumstances not reasonably foreseeable at the time the budget was prepared, subject to submitting a supplementary budget to the Minister within two months of the alteration of expenditure limits becoming necessary.

17. Accounts and audit

(1)The Council shall cause to be provided and kept proper books of account and records with respect to—
(a)the receipt and expenditure of moneys by, and other financial transactions of, the Council;
(b)the assets and liabilities of the Council, and shall cause to be made out for every financial year a balance sheet showing details of the income and expenditure of the Council and all its assets and liabilities.
(2)Within six months of the close of every financial year a balance sheet showing details of the income and expenditure of the Council in respect of that financial year shall be submitted for audit by the Tanzania Audit Corporation established by the Tanzania Audit Corporation Act2.2Cap. 56
(3)Every audited balance sheet shall be placed before a meeting of the Council which, if it adopts it shall endorse the balance sheet with a certificate that it has been so adopted.
(4)As soon as the accounts of the Council have been audited, and in any case not later than eight months after the close of the financial year, the Council shall submit to the Minister a copy of the audited statement of accounts together with a copy of the report, made by the auditors on the statement of accounts which he shall submit before the National Assembly.

Schedule (Section 3(2))

1.The Council shall consist of—
(a)a Chairman, who shall be appointed by the President;
(b)fifteen members appointed by the Minister, upon nomination one each by such ministries and organisations involved in matters relating to the management or protection of the environment as the Minister may determine;
(c)three other members appointed by the Minister amongst persons who, in his opinion, have the necessary experience or qualifications to enable them to make a useful contribution to the realisation of the objectives of, and to the deliberations of the Council.
2.Vice-ChairmanThe Members shall elect one of their number to be the Vice-Chairman of the Council, and any member elected as Vice-Chairman shall, subject to his continuing to be a member, hold office for a term of one year form the date of election, and shall be eligible for re-election.
3.Tenure of appointment
(1)A member shall, unless his appointment is sooner terminated by the President or, as the case may be, by the Minister or he ceases in any other way to be a member, hold office for the period specified by the President in the case of the Chairman or by the Minister, in the case of any other member, in the instrument of his appointment or if no period is so specified, for a period of three years from the date of his appointment and shall be eligible for re-appointment.
(2)Any member appointed under paragraph 1 (a), or (c) may at any time resign his office by giving notice in writing to the President or, as the case may be, to the Minister, and from the date specified in the notice or, if no date is so specified, from the date of the receipt of the notice by the President or the Minister as the case may be, he shall cease to be a member.
(3)If a member of the Council who is a member by virtue of his holding some other office is unable for any reason to attend any meeting he may nominate in writing another person from his Ministry or organisation to attend that meeting in his place.
4.Temporary membershipWhere any member ceases to be a member for any reason before the expiration of his term of office, the appointing authority may appoint another person in his place and the person so appointed shall hold office for the remainder of the term of office of his predecessor.
5.Meetings
(1)The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Council.
(2)Where at any meeting of the Council the Chairman is absent the Vice-Chairman shall preside.
(3)In the absence of both the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman at any meeting of the Council, the members present shall, from amongst their number elect a temporary chairman who shall preside at the meeting.
(4)The Chairman, Vice-Chairman or a temporary chairman presiding at the meeting of the Council, shall in the event of an equality of votes shall have a casting vote in addition of his deliberative vote.
6.Meeting and procedure of the Council
(1)The Council shall ordinarily meet for the transaction of its business not less than twice during every year and at such additional times as may the be fixed by the Chairman or, if he is absent from United Republic or unable for any reason to act, the Vice-Chairman.
(2)The Chairman or, in his absence from the United Republic, the Vice-Chairman may, and upon application in writing by at least five members shall, convene a special meeting of the Council at any time.
(3)The Secretary of the Council shall give to each member adequate notice of the time and place of each meeting.
(4)The Council may invite any person who is not a member to participate in the deliberations of any meeting of the Council, but any person so invited shall not be entitled to vote.
7.QuorumAt any meeting of the Council not less than one half of the members in office for the time being shall constitute a quorum.
8.Decisions of Council
(1)Subject to the provisions relating to a casting vote, all questions at a meeting of the Council shall be determined by majority of the votes of the members present.
(2)Notwithstanding subparagraph (1), a decision may be made by the Council without meeting by circulation of the relevant papers among the members, and the expression in writing of the views of the majority of the members.
9.Minutes of the meeting
(1)The Council shall cause to be recorded and kept minutes of all business conducted or transacted at its meeting and the minutes of each meeting of the Council shall be read and confirmed or amended and confirmed, at the next meeting of the Council and signed by the person presiding at the meeting.
(2)Any minutes purporting to be signed by the person presiding at a meeting of the Council shall, in the absence of proof of error, be deemed to be a correct record of the meeting, whose minutes they purport to be.
10.Vacancies, etc., not to invalidate proceedingsThe validity of any act or proceeding of the Council shall not be affected by any vacancy among its members or by any defect in the appointment of any of them.
11.Orders, directions, etc.All orders, directions, notices or other documents made or issued on behalf of the Council shall be signed by—
(a)the Chairman of the Council; of
(b)the Secretary or any officer or officers of the Council authorised in writing in that behalf by the Secretary.
12.Seal of the CouncilThe Seal of the Council shall not be affixed to any instrument except in the presence of the Chairman or the Secretary or some other officer of the Council and at least one member of the Council.
13.Council may regulate its proceedingsSubject to the provisions of this Schedule, the Council may regulate its own proceedings.
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History of this document

31 July 2002 this version
Consolidation
15 October 1983
Commenced

Cited documents 2

Legislation 2
  1. Civil Procedure Code
  2. Tanzania Audit Corporation Act

Documents citing this one 0