Regulating Roads and Transportation in Tanzania: Domestic Legislation, Regional Integration, and International Laws

This paper examines the legal and policy framework governing road transport infrastructure and traffic regulation in Tanzania within international, regional, and domestic contexts. Tanzania’s shift from a low-income to a lower-middle-income country has been significantly shaped by advancements in transport infrastructure, especially the road network, which plays a dominant role in both passenger and freight movement. Effective transportation laws are crucial not only for economic development but also for safeguarding human rights and environmental sustainability. At the international level, United Nations conventions and Sustainable Development Goals underscore road safety as integral to human development, mandating member states to harmonize legal frameworks and enforcement mechanisms. Regionally, Tanzania’s commitment through bodies such as the EAC and SADC has facilitated initiatives like the Tripartite Transport and Transit Facilitation Program, which aims to harmonize vehicle standards, cross-border regulation, and data sharing. However, challenges remain in the domestication and enforcement of these regional commitments due to divergent legal systems and administrative capacities domestically, Tanzania’s regulatory framework is primarily governed by the Road Traffic Act of 1973 and the Roads Act of 2007, supplemented by policy instruments such as the Road Safety Policy (2009). Enforcement is spearheaded by the Tanzanian Police under the Police Force and Auxiliary Services Act (2002). While these laws grant broad discretionary powers to law enforcement in the name of “public interest,” this concept remains legally ambiguous and prone to abuse. The lack of definitional clarity and accountability mechanisms presents ongoing challenges to the just and effective enforcement of traffic laws.