(MISA/IFEX) – At least four journalists have come under pressure variously from the police and private individuals to reveal the source of an article which appeared in January in the satirical weekly newspaper, “Sanifu”. The article, entitled “Askofu Msaidizi Ajisetiri na Mke wa Muumini”, reported on an unnamed Assistant Bishop who was having an affair […]
(MISA/IFEX) – At least four journalists have come under pressure variously
from the
police and private individuals to reveal the source of an article which
appeared in January in the satirical weekly newspaper, “Sanifu”. The
article, entitled “Askofu Msaidizi Ajisetiri na Mke wa Muumini”, reported on
an unnamed Assistant Bishop who was having an affair with a married woman in
his congregation.
On 12 June 1998, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) correspondent Nechi
Lyimo was briefly interrogated by police in the Moshi Kilimanjaro region in
connection with the story. Lyimo, who has never worked for “Sanifu” and had
nothing to do with the story, was interrogated for about five hours as
police tried to get him to reveal the source of the article. Lyimo told MISA
that the police informed him that he would be called as a witness in a court
case, but to date he has neither any knowledge of a court case nor
has he been called as a witness.
Two weeks before Lyimo’s encounter, Daniel Mjema, a journalist for “Majira”
newspaper, was approached by a policeman during an informal encounter to
reveal the source of the article. Mjema, who has also never worked for
“Sanifu”, said the policeman then told him that he would be called in to
make a statement. However, to date this has not happened. MISA has also
learned that two other journalists, Lilian Kaaya and Aziz Msuya, both of
“Majira” newspaper, have been approached by private individuals offering
them money to reveal the sources of the article.
The Acting Regional Commander of the police in the Kilimanjaro region, when
approached by journalists for an explanation of the conduct of his officers,
expressed surprise that Lyimo had been interrogated. He reportedly informed
journalists that the action of the officers had not been sanctioned,
pointing to a possible irregularity in the interrogation of Lyimo.
