Tanzania

(MISA/IFEX) – The Tanzanian chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-TAN) on 16 September 1998 lodged a petition in the High Court to challenge the legality of some provisions in the Broadcasting Services Act No. 6 of 1993. The application was lodged by three top office bearers of MISA-TAN: Joseph Masanilo, the Chairperson […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) confirms meeting with the Zanzibar Minister of Information, Culture, Tourism and Youth, Issa Mohammed Issa, in his office on Friday, 21 August 1998 to discuss the continued banning of newspapers in Zanzibar. ***For background, see IFEX alert dated 21 August 1998*** The minister gave no commitment […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 30 July 1998, a journalist with the private Dar es Salaam Television (DTV), Betty Masanja, was interrogated by police and forced to provide a written statement to be a state witness in order to associate the vice-chairman of the Zanzibar-based Civic United Front (CUF) party, Seif Shariff Hamad, with charges of treason […]

(MISA/IFEX) – Managing director of Guardian Limited Vumi Urasa, who owns the newspapers “Kasheshe” and “Tingisha”, has apologised to the government for publishing and distributing “Tingisha” four days after the government had suspended “Kasheshe”. **Updates IFEX alerts dated 24, 15, 12 and 9 June 1998** According to a government statement released by Tanzania Information Services […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 3 July 1998, the Kilimanjaro regional police commissioner (RC), Professor Philemon Sarungi, directed the police to conduct an immediate investigation into the fire that destroyed the house of BBC correspondent Nechi Lyimo on 30 June 1998 in Moshi (northern Tanzania). **Updates IFEX alerts of 18 June and 3 July 1998** According to […]

(MISA/IFEX) – According to MISA, on the night of 30 June 1998, a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) correspondent and his family escaped death after their house was set alight by unknown people in Moshi (northern Tanzania). **Updates IFEX alert of 18 June 1998** Journalist Nechi Lyimo, who is based in the northern zone, stays in […]

(MISA/IFEX) – Police in Zanzibar on 21 June 1998, confiscated the film of photo-journalist Amour Nassor, who works for the state-owned weekly “Nuru”. Nassor was on assignment at the time to cover voting in a parliamentary by-election in Mikunguni. He was taking photos of voters at the Kijangwani polling station when he was surrounded by […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The government of Tanzania intends to review media laws which have been deemed oppressive, the government owned “Daily News” reported on 20 June 1998. Prime Minister Frederick Sumaye told the National Assembly in Dodoma on 19 June that the government would table before the House the possible amendments to laws relating to the […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 22 June 1998, the government of Tanzania banned two more privately owned Kiswahili tabloids. A statement issued by the Tanzania Information Services in Dodoma said the newspapers “Tingisha” and “Watu” had been banned for violating the Newspaper Act No. 3 of 1976 and the Newspaper Regulations of 1977. The statement said, “the […]

(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) – On 11 June 1998, the chief executives of the “Kasheshe”, “Chombeza” and “Arusha leo” publications requested that the government of Tanzania consider lifting the bans imposed on their newspapers on 8 June. It was the second such appeal made to their government. The managing director of The Guardian Limited, Vumi Urassa, appeared for […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The government of Tanzania has recommended to Parliament that the import tax exemption on newsprint granted in 1997 be abolished. The move is expected to have a heavy toll on Tanzania’s burgeoning newspaper industry, which in recent years has flourished almost unhindered. Unveiling the Government Budget speech for the 1998/99 financial year in […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The editors of the three Kiswahili-language newspapers that were banned by the Tanzanian government met Minister of Information Kingunge Ngombare Mwiru to plead their case. Deo Masakilija, the editor of “Arusha Leo”, and Saidi Msonda, the editor of “Kasheshe”, both told MISA that the meeting in Dodoma on 9 June was cordial, with […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 6 June 1998, the Government of Tanzania announced the ban of three Kiswahili weekly tabloids. The newspapers “Kasheshe”, “Chombeza” and “Arusha Leo” were banned with effect from 8 June for what the Government described as the papers’ persistent featuring of pornographic cartoons. In the statement issued on 6 June, Minister of State […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 3 June 1998, police in Dar es Salaam beat and briefly detained “Mtanzania” photojournalist Ally Mwankufi. At the time, Mwankufi was taking pictures of police arresting suspects at Kinondoni Mkwajuni in the Kinondoni district following the murder of an individual. Mwankufi told MISA-Tanzania that four police officers arrested him at 10.40 am […]

(MISA/IFEX) – According to MISA, journalists and media workers in Tanzania have asked the government to reform some of the laws which restrict the right to information and freedom of expression. The media workers made the call during the celebrations of this year’s World Press Freedom Day at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in […]