Uproar as Tanzania government promises tough action
Tanzania opposition Chadema chairman Freeman Mbowe (right) and the
party’s chief legal counsel Tundu Lissu at the Kisutu Resident
Magistrate’s Court in Dar es Salaam on August 5, 2016. Mr Lissu was
charged with three counts, including sedition and contempt of court.
- Is the Tanzania government clamping down on press freedom and curtailing freedom of speech? Or is it just delivering the tough action it promised against hate speech, illegal gatherings and demonstrations?
- Political observers interpret this as CCM’s way of dealing with the opposition, which has remained defiant, poking holes in the ruling party’s policies.
- Several weeks ago, President John Pombe Magufuli banned demonstrations and political gatherings, saying it was time to work and not to do politics.
- Mid this week, the govt ordered the independent weekly newspaper Mseto shut for alleged incitement.
Is the Tanzania government clamping down on press freedom
and curtailing freedom of speech? Or is it just delivering the tough
action it promised against hate speech, illegal gatherings and
demonstrations?
Political observers interpret this as CCM’s way of dealing with
the opposition, which has remained defiant, poking holes in the ruling
party’s policies.
Several weeks ago, President John Pombe Magufuli banned
demonstrations and political gatherings, saying it was time to work and
not to do politics.
The president further promised tough action against those who
defied the ban but later relented, allowing politicians to hold meeting
in their constituencies.
But mid this week, the government ordered the independent weekly newspaper Mseto shut for alleged incitement.
Nape Nnauye, the Minister for Information, said the newspaper
had published a misleading story, linking the president to corruption.
Mseto was banned for three years and will also not
publish online, in accordance to the Electronic and Postal Communication
Act (2008).
The 1976 Newspapers Act section 25 (1) states that, “Where the
minister is of the opinion that it is in the public interest or in the
interest of peace and good order so to do, he may, by order in the
gazette, direct that the newspaper named in the order shall cease
publication as from the date (hereinafter referred to as ‘the effective
date’) specified in the order.”
Mr Nnauye said any media outlet that broadcasts or prints
inciting stories from political gatherings will face the law — a
statement interpreted in some circles as media censorship.
“I will not spare anyone who will echo incitement… If I insult
someone here and you publish the insults you will be in for it,” the
minister told The EastAfrican.
At the same time, the president’s office has warned Chadema
chairman Freeman Mbowe and the party’s chief legal counsel Tundu Lissu
against incitement.
Public leadership code
Public Ethics Committee Commissioner Salome Kaganda wrote to
Chadema saying they had uttered words that ran counter to the public
leadership code.
“The statements made by Chadema’s leaders did not in any way serve the interests of the public,” she wrote.
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