Permian coal-bearing strata occur in a number of intracratonic rift basins in Tanzania, This study examines coals, shales and mudstones of the Namwele-Mkomolo, Mute and Galula coalfields (Rukwa basin) by coal petrological, palynological and rock eval techniques. For the coals the focus was on the establishment of coal seam characteristics and related quality and utilization potentials, whereas the shales and mudstones were examined for age relationships, flora and related palaeodepositional environments and source rock potential. The coal seams, which have a thickness of up to 2.95 m are high in ash yields (25-63 wt%) and have calorific values ranging from 5344 to 18947 J/g. Typical for many of the seams is their detrital nature as indicated by the high content in finely disseminated clay minerals, quartz and detrital macerals. Pyrite content is variable (0.60-5.81 wt%). Vitrinite reflectance ranges from 0.43 to 0.66% R-random (subbituminous to high volatile B bituminous). Use of the coals in small-scale power generations and for domestic use would greatly reduce the dependency of rural Tanzania on wood and wood-derived charcoal as the main source of fuel, Palynomorph assemblages are characterized by the predominance of nontaeniate and taeniate pollen, and trilete spores in the Namwele-Mkomolo and Mute coalfields. At Galula coalfield the palynomorph assemblages were poor (rare trilete, alete and monolete spores). On the basis of age correlations with Karoo basins to the south and the Collie Basin of western Australia, an Artinskian to Kungurian(?) age is suggested for the coal measures in the Rukwa basin. The diversity of palynomorph assemblages suggests a variety of floras and contemporary depositional environments throughout deposition of the Karoo strata. This is consistent with coal petrographic parameter, which would indicate that peat accumulation occurred in upper delta plain, braided plain and lacustrine depositional environments. Rock eval parameters indicate kerogen type III for all samples investigated and indicate very poor hydrocarbon source rock potential.