(MISA/IFEX) – On 8 April 2003, the chairperson of the Tanzania Football Association (FAT), Muhidin Ndolanga, assaulted Emmanuel Muga, a reporter from the weekly newspaper “The Express”, for allegedly photographing him illegally. Muga and 10 other reporters from “Mtanzania”, “Mwananchi”, “Daily News”, “The Express”, ITV and Radio Times FM went to Ndolanga’s office to seek […]
(MISA/IFEX) – On 8 April 2003, the chairperson of the Tanzania Football Association (FAT), Muhidin Ndolanga, assaulted Emmanuel Muga, a reporter from the weekly newspaper “The Express”, for allegedly photographing him illegally.
Muga and 10 other reporters from “Mtanzania”, “Mwananchi”, “Daily News”, “The Express”, ITV and Radio Times FM went to Ndolanga’s office to seek comment on his decision to adjourn the association’s general assembly, which was scheduled for 5 April.
Ndolanga assaulted Muga when the reporter took a photograph in his office. Ndolanga also confronted the reporter, telling him that he “did not look like a newspaper man,” and had not been given permission to take photographs.
During the same incident, Ndolanga told the other 10 reporters to identify themselves. They were wearing press cards at the time and were not unknown to Ndolanga, who had met many of them at sporting events and press conferences.
“Where are you coming from and who has called you here?” Ndolanga rebuked the journalists. He expelled them from his office saying that he did not deal with soccer issues in his private office and that they had arrived there without a prior appointment.
