By our Reporter
Tanzania’s Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) has issued a final warning to public and private institutions to register for compliance with the country’s data protection law, saying strict enforcement will begin after April 8.
The commission said the voluntary registration window for entities that collect and process personal data will close on April 8, with legal action, including fines of up to 5 billion Tanzanian shillings, to follow from April 9.
Speaking at a press briefing, PDPC Director General Emmanuel Lameck Mkilia said the government had provided sufficient time for institutions to comply since the commission’s launch in 2024.
“The government provided adequate time for registration, starting in April 2024 when President Samia Suluhu Hassan inaugurated the commission,” Mkilia said.
“The deadline has been extended twice, most recently by the Minister for Information, Communication and Information Technology, Angellah Jasmine Mbelwa Kairuki, who set April 8 as the final date.”
Mkilia said full enforcement of the Personal Data Protection Act, Chapter 44, will begin on April 9, with any institution found operating without registration subject to legal penalties.
Under the law, individuals face fines ranging from 100,000 to 20 million Tanzanian shillings or imprisonment of up to 10 years, while companies and institutions risk fines of between 1 million and 5 billion shillings, depending on the severity of the violation.
The law applies across key sectors including government ministries and agencies, banks, insurance firms, hospitals, schools, telecommunications companies, manufacturing industries, tourism operators, transport firms, construction companies, political parties, trade unions, religious organisations and non-governmental organisations.
Authorities say the legislation is designed to safeguard citizens’ fundamental right to privacy while strengthening trust between service providers and users an essential pillar for the growth of Tanzania’s digital economy and investment climate.
