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.

Related Stories

• Tanzania opposition vows to hold 'defiance rallies' in spite of ban
• Who would be an opposition politician in East Africa today?

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).

READ: Tanzania bans Mseto newspaper for three years

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.