Change of name to Elon Musk

I am a 35 year old Tanzanian businessman and a great admirer of Elon Musk. I have decided to change my name from my current African name to Elon Musk. My wife is completely against the idea and says that my birth certificate, NIDA card and other official documents cannot simply be changed because I admire a billionaire. She also says that I will need her permission before changing my name. Can I legally change my name to Elon Musk, and does my wife have any legal power to stop me?

JM, Mbeya

Your admiration for Elon Musk is certainly ambitious, although changing your name may be easier than acquiring his wealth! Under Tanzanian law, an adult may change their name through the applicable legal procedures. One recognized method is the execution and registration of a deed poll under the Registration of Documents Act, Cap. 117. The process ordinarily involves formally declaring the abandonment of the former name, adopting the new name, registering the relevant instrument and complying with applicable publication requirements. RITA also recognizes the use of a registered deed poll for changes of name in official birth records.

As an adult, you do not ordinarily require your wife’s consent to change your own name. However, the change must be undertaken lawfully and should not be used for fraudulent purposes, such as evading debts or concealing your identity. You will also need to follow the relevant procedures for updating your official records. You may therefore pursue the name change, subject to applicable registration requirements. However, we must warn you that becoming Elon Musk on your identity card will not automatically make you the owner of Tesla, SpaceX or several hundred billion dollars. Your wife may still expect you to pay the electricity bill amongst others!

Hospital steals my famous slogan

I am a very famous Tanzanian artist and have popularized the slogan “you better watch your back”, which I use in my campaign against homosexuality. The slogan has become extremely famous and many people now associate it with me. Recently, I discovered that a government hospital is using exactly the same slogan in a campaign encouraging people to take care of their backbone and spinal health. I am furious because I came up with this slogan first and made it famous. Can I sue the hospital for using my slogan without my permission?

JK, Dar es Salaam

Your slogan may be famous, but unfortunately fame alone does not necessarily give you exclusive ownership of every word you popularize. Under the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act, copyright protection extends to original literary and artistic works. However, short and commonly used expressions such as this would be unlikely qualify for copyright protection on their own, particularly where they lack sufficient original expression. Therefore, merely popularizing the slogan does not automatically give you copyright over the words themselves.

There is, however, another possibility under the Trade and Service Marks Act which proffers protection against unauthorized uses, provided the slogan is registered as a trade or service mark. However, registration does not necessarily give you exclusive rights to the expression in every conceivable context. The nature of the goods or services, the manner in which the slogan is used and the likelihood of confusion are relevant. Even where a slogan is unregistered, the law preserves the possibility of an action for passing off, provided the necessary legal requirements are established.

In your case, the hospital appears to be using the expression in its ordinary sense to promote spinal health, rather than to identify its services with your artistic activities or campaign. Unless there are additional circumstances showing infringement, misrepresentation or another legally recognized wrong, a successful claim against the hospital appears unlikely.

Exportation of social security benefits

My friend who is a foreign national has been employed in Tanzania for years, during which both he and his employer regularly contributed to a social security fund. He now intends to permanently return to his country of origin and wishes to withdraw and transfer all his accumulated social security benefits. However, Tanzania has not entered into a bilateral social security agreement with his home country providing for the portability of such benefits. What legal options are available to enable him to receive his accumulated social security benefits upon permanently leaving Tanzania? Does Tanzanian law permit the withdrawal or exportation of such benefits in the absence of a bilateral agreement, and what procedures must he follow?

MJ, Mwanza

Under Tanzanian law, the absence of a bilateral social security agreement does not necessarily prevent a departing foreign employee from receiving his social security benefits. Regulation 13(1) of the Social Security Schemes (Benefits) Regulations, 2018, as amended in 2025, expressly recognises eligibility for a special lump sum payment for a foreigner employed in Mainland Tanzania who leaves the country following cessation of employment. It also covers a member who permanently emigrates to a country without a bilateral agreement with Tanzania permitting portability of benefits. Accordingly, the employee may seek payment of a special lump sum rather than relying on an international portability arrangement. However, entitlement to such payment must be distinguished from an automatic right to withdraw every contribution made by the employee and employer, since the amount payable must be determined in accordance with the applicable statutory benefit calculation provisions.

To enforce his entitlement, the employee should formally terminate his employment and submit an application for a special lump sum payment to the Director General of the relevant social security scheme. He is expected to provide a letter confirming cessation of employment, duly signed by his employer, together with the prescribed declaration confirming that he has not secured another employment. As a practical measure, he should provide evidence of intended permanent departure, social security membership details and verified banking information.

It is important to distinguish between the legal entitlement to receive benefits and the mechanism for transferring the money abroad. The absence of a bilateral agreement does not defeat his entitlement to the statutory special lump sum; rather, it is expressly contemplated as a qualifying circumstance under the amended Regulations. He should therefore request the Fund to assess his entitlement, issue a written benefit computation and confirm whether payment may be remitted directly to his foreign bank account or must first be received through a Tanzanian bank. Any outward remittance must comply with applicable banking, foreign exchange and anti-money-laundering requirements. If the Fund refuses his application solely because no bilateral agreement exists, he would have reasonable grounds to challenge that decision by relying on Regulation 13(1), subject to the applicable administrative review and appeal procedures.