Dating two men at the same time 

I am a single beauty queen who has been dating two men simultaneously. A friend of mine says that this practice is illegal and that I either disclose this to the men I am dating so that they know or stop dating one of them. I want to do neither and stick to the two men, as each has the advantage of being dated. I fail to understand why the law would stop me from doing what I want to? After all, this is very common with men. Please guide me, as I don’t think my friend makes sense and I don’t want to end up getting depressed.
AA, Dar es Salaam

This is an interesting question! Your question brings to light the differences between what is considered moral and what is legal. Something can be morally wrong without being legally wrong. In many faiths and cultures, dating two men simultaneously is seen as morally unacceptable although this might be changing nowadays.

On the legal front, it is not illegal to date two men simultaneously in Tanzania, as there is no law prohibiting it. However, doing so may affect various aspects of your life, including your faith, culture, health, etc. Be mindful of the potential repercussions if these men discover each other’s existence. We cannot speculate on their potential actions, but it may not end well. Perhaps this is the reason why your friends are concerned about these relationships.

Remember, if one of the relationships becomes serious and leads to marriage considerations, there may be legal repercussions. For instance, the man may have grounds to sue for gifts given in contemplation of marriage as provided under the Law of Marriage Act, Cap. 29 [R.E 2019] upon learning the truth. Overall, we wish you all the best and advise you to navigate these relationships with caution. You may also need counselling, which this QnA does not provide. In any case you may consult your lawyer for further guidance.

Picture of head of state

I can see that all public offices have pictures of the head of state. Further, the pictures are with another picture of the father of the nation Mwalimu Julius Nyerere. Is this a legal requirement, or is it done out of respect? Please enlighten me.
PK, Dodoma

Congratulations on being such an attentive observer! It is a legal requirement to place the pictures of the head of state and father of the nation in public offices. The Standing Orders for the Public Service, 2009, established under section 35(5) of the Public Service Act, Cap. 298, states that the official portrait of the President of the United Republic of Tanzania shall be placed on the wall above the desk of the public servant in all Government offices. Further, the official portrait of the father of the nation, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, the first President of the United Republic of Tanzania, shall be placed on the wall in all Government offices so that it faces that of the President of the United Republic. It is said that the pictures of the two respected leaders are displayed facing each other to show that the head of state is following Nyerere’s vision and advice. We believe it is important to show respect to our esteemed leaders; this is why the law mandates us to honour them in this manner. You may read the Standing Orders for further clarity.

Stealing from rich to give poor

I come from a region rich in gold, yet my community faces significant hardships. A small number of wealthy individuals enjoy lavish lifestyles, benefiting immensely from the gold mines in our area. If I were to steal from these affluent individuals to aid the poorer members of my community, would I be committing an offence? I believe my actions would be justified since I want to help those in need. Please provide guidance on this matter.
NM, Mbeya

Your questions reminded us of the tale of Robin Hood, a figure who stole from the rich to feed the poor. While this act may be seen as noble and justified due to the disparity between the rich and the poor, it is still considered a crime. According to Section 265 of the Penal Code, Cap. 16 [R.E 2022], any person who steals anything capable of being stolen is guilty of theft and is liable unless, owing to the circumstances of the theft or the nature of the thing stolen, some other punishment is provided, to imprisonment for 7 years. There is no justification for theft simply because the theft was committed to help the poor and you should not try to turn yourself into Robin Hood, an outlaw hero, otherwise you will end up in jail.

Having said the above, a person convicted of theft may use the reasoning of helping the poor as a mitigating factor to potentially reduce their sentence. We have not encountered any cases where this strategy has been successfully used to mitigate a sentence. Nonetheless, we believe that Courts may take into account the motive behind the theft, which was to assist the poor, and could possibly impose a lighter sentence, but you will certainly be sentenced. That said, any mitigation must still adhere to the laws and sentencing guidelines. While it is admirable to want to help others, we advise you to remain a law-abiding citizen and explore alternative ways to assist the poor, such as fundraising, engaging in charity work, or other lawful activities. Your lawyer can provide further guidance in these endeavours.