(MISA/IFEX) – On 26 February 2000, the Tanzanian government threatened to shut down all newspapers which published stories or cartoons that defamed the president or were found to be seditious. The threat was made by the Director of Tanzania Information Services (TIS), Kassim Mpenda, at a ceremony launching the Tanzania Media Council newsletter, “Media Watch”. […]
(MISA/IFEX) – On 26 February 2000, the Tanzanian government threatened to shut down all newspapers which published stories or cartoons that defamed the president or were found to be seditious. The threat was made by the Director of Tanzania Information Services (TIS), Kassim Mpenda, at a ceremony launching the Tanzania Media Council newsletter, “Media Watch”.
During the ceremony, Mpenda urged journalists to be mindful of their work as it would be the only way to safeguard their profession. However, he did not make any specific references to newspaper stories that defamed the president.
Mpenda also added that “any newspaper found to carry pornographic feature articles, pictures and cartoons, will be banned immediately by the minister responsible for information.”
