Aim

The Registration Insolvency and Trusteeship Agency (RITA) aims at effective and efficient management of information on key life events, incorporation of trustees, safeguarding properties under trust, of deceased persons, insolvents, and minors to enable the law to take its course.

Historical Background

RITA was officially launched on the 23rd June 2006 and replaces what was known as the Administrator Generals Department in the Attorney Generals Chambers, Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs. It is an Executive Agency under the Attorney Generals Chambers in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.

The history of RITA dates back in 1917 when the German Colonial power enacted a law for registration of births and deaths (Proclamation No.15 of 1917 (Civil Area). When the British took over the administration of Tanganyika (Tanzania Mainland) from the Germans retained the Register of births and deaths established under the Germans law by saving it under the Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance, 1920 (Cap.108)
It should be noted that under both colonial powers registration of births and deaths was not compulsory for Africans.

Between 1920 and 1960 the British colonial power came with more laws on key life events and other matters. These laws were either wholly or partly administered by the office of the Administrator General/Registrar General. These laws are:-

• The Bankruptcy Ordinance, 1920 (Cap. 25).
• Registration of Documents Ordinance, 1923(Cap.117).
• Marriage Ordinance, 1921 (Cap.109).
• Companies Ordinance, 1921 (Cap. 212).
• Administrator Generals Ordinance, 1921 (Cap.27).
• Land (Law of Property and Conveyancing) Ordinance, 1923 (Cap.114)
• Land (Perpetual Succession) Ordinance 1927 (Cap.119).
• Business Names (Registration) Ordinance, 1930 (Cap.213).
• Public Trustee Ordinance, 1930 (Cap.31).
• Deeds of Arrangement Ordinance, 1930 (Cap.26).
• Patents (Registration) Ordinance, 1931 (Cap.217).
• Trade Marks Ordinance, 1931 (Cap.216).
• Adoption Ordinance, 1953 (Cap.335).
• Trustees Incorporation Ordinance, 1956 (Cap.375).
• Chattels Transfer, Cap.210.
• Trade Unions Ordinance, Cap.381.
• Building Societies Ordinance, 1954 (Cap.340).
• Societies Ordinance, 1954 (Cap.337).
• Probate and Administration Ordinance, (Cap.445).
• Administration of Deceased Natives Estates Ordinance.

When Tanganyika became independent in 1961 the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs was established. Amongst the Departments in the Ministry were Registrar General Department and Administrator General Department. Each of these Departments had its own laws to administer as under:


(a) Office of the Registrar General

• Registration of Births and Deaths Ordinance (Cap. 108).
• Adoption Ordinance (Cap. 335).
• Trustees Incorporation (Cap. 375).
• The Marriage Ordinance (Cap.109).
• The Business Names Registration Ordinance (Cap. 213).
• The Trade Mark Ordinance (Cap. 394).
• Chattels Transfer (Cap. 210).
• Deeds of Arrangement (Cap. 26).
• Registration of Documents (Cap.117).
• Trade Unions Ordinance (Cap. 381).
• Land Registration Ordinance (Cap. 334).
• Building Societies (Cap.340).
• Land (Law of Property and Conveyancing Ordinance, (Cap. 114).
• Societies Ordinance (Cap. 337).

(b) Office of the Administrator General

• Probate and Administration Ordinance (Cap. 445).
• Bankruptcy Ordinance (Cap.25).
• Administrator Generals Ordinance (Cap. 27).
• Administration of Deceased Natives Estates Ordinance.
• Public Trustees Ordinance (Cap. 31).
• The Companies Ordinance (Cap. 212.

Following some change of Government Policy after adopting the Arusha Declaration and reorganization of various Ministries in 1967, the Ministry of Justice was dissolved and various Departments, which were part of the Ministry, were all transferred to the Office of the Vice President and Prime Minister as a Division, which was known as Justice Division. The two Departments of the Administrator General and Registrar General were amalgamated as one Department known as the Administrator General Department. Some of the laws administered by the then the Office of the Registrar General were assigned to:


1. The Registrar of Societies (Ministry of Home Affairs).

• The Societies Ordinance (Cap. 337).

2. Aim The Registrar of Companies (Ministry of Trade and Industries).

• The Companies Ordinance (Cap.212).
• The Business Names Registration Ordinance(213).
• The Trade Mark Ordinance (Cap.394).

3. The Registrar of Titles (Ministry of Land and Settlement).

• The Land Registration Ordinance (Cap.334).
• The Chattels Transfer Ordinance (Cap. 210).
• The Registration of Documents Ordinance(Cap.117).
• The Land (Law of property) and Conveyancing Ordinance, Cap.114.

The Administrator Generals Department was entrusted with duties arising from laws, which are enlisted hereunder:

• The Births & Deaths Registration Ordinance (Cap.108).
• The Adoption Ordinance (Cap. 335).
• The Trustees Incorporation Ordinance (Cap. 375).
• The Public Trustee Ordinance (Cap.31).
• The Administrator Generals Ordinance (Cap.27).
• The Probate and Administration Ordinance (Cap.445).
• The Marriages Ordinance (Cap.109) of which later on was repealed and replaced by
  The Law of Marriage Act, No.5of 1971 as a one unified law.

RITA has been formed to take over the functions which were being undertaken by the Administrator Generals Department. The functions fall under the following laws:

• The Births & Deaths Registration Act, Cap.29 R.E 2002.
• The Adoption Act, Cap. 335  R.E 2002.
• The Trustees Incorporation Act, Cap. 318 R.E 2002.
• The Public Trustee Act, R.E Cap.31.
• The Administrator General( Powers and Functions)Act Cap.27 R.E 2002.
• The Probate and Administration Act, Cap 445 R.E 2002.
• The Bankruptcy Act Cap. 25 R.E 2002.
• The Marriages Act (Cap 29. R.E 2002).

The Agency has got 132 employees.RITA Headquarters 93 employees and 39 employees at District Offices. The Agency has no offices of its own at district level, but mainly relies and works with collaboration of the Districts and Regional Authorities in order to carry out its functions smoothly.

The Agency enjoys the monopoly in business of registration of births, deaths, marriages, divorces and incorporation of trustees. With liberalization of the economy the Agencys business in matters of receivership and company liquidation is likely to revive from stagnancy it suffered during the years following the Arusha Declaration.