(MISA/IFEX) – The Kiswahili-language daily newspaper “Majira” was back on the streets on 29 and 30 July 1999 following a seven day ban imposed on 22 July. The newspaper carried a front page apology in its 29 July edition, acknowledging that it had presented some incorrect calculations in a story that it carried on 22 […]
(MISA/IFEX) – The Kiswahili-language daily newspaper “Majira” was back on
the streets on 29 and 30 July 1999 following a seven day ban imposed on 22
July. The newspaper carried a front page apology in its 29 July edition,
acknowledging that it had presented some incorrect calculations in a story
that it carried on 22 July. The apology was a condition for the ban being
lifted.
**Updates IFEX alert of 23 July 1999**
The contentious story reported on proposals to raise the salaries and perks
of government ministers to 9 Million Tshs (US$11,000) per month while those
of regional commissioners would be upgraded to 8.5 Millions Tshs (US$10,000)
per month. The article further said that members of parliament would be
pocketing 6.6 Million Tshs (US$8,000) each per month. The amounts quoted,
however, were for annual salaries. Nevertheless, the story also reported
that the government had set aside an amount totaling 4.4 per cent of
Tanzania’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the salaries of civil servants.
The editor of “Majira”, Jesse Kwayu, told MISA that the newspapers was
ultimately vindicated when, on 29 July, the minister for civil service
tabled his estimates for salaries for civil servants in parliament. The
total that they had reported was correct and amounted to 4.4 per cent of the
GDP.
Kwayu further complained to MISA that he felt the government had overreacted
to the story. He said that while he did not mind apologising for getting a
story wrong, he felt the government could have followed existing legal
channels, such as the media council or the courts, if it had a problem with
the story.
Background Information
On 22 July, the government of Tanzania banned “Majira” from being published,
printed and circulated in Tanzania for seven days. The ban followed the
contentious story that reported on proposed hefty pay packages for ministers
and senior government executives beginning this financial year.
The Director of the Tanzania Information Services, Kassim Mpenda, said in a
statement that the punishment was meant to deter others in the media from
carrying what he claimed to be “false and malicious articles.” The statement
said the news item in question was a total fabrication and a provocative one
aimed at fanning discontent and hatred among the people towards the
government.
This was the first time that “Majira” had been banned in the United Republic
of Tanzania. A previous ban on “Majira”, in December 1996, applied only to
Zanzibar. That ban was lifted in December 1998 (see IFEX alert of 21 August
1998).
