Tanzania Government bans yet another newspaper as country heads for elections

By Osoro Nyawangah, DODOMA Tanzania

The government of Tanzania has yet suspended the publication of a private daily newspaper Tanzania Daima today, Tuesday June 23 over excessive and repetitive nature of violations of the journalism laws and ethics.

In October 2017, the government banned the newspaper for 90 days for allegedly publishing false information.The ban was imposed by the government spokesperson, Hassan Abbasi, doubled as Director of Information Services and now doubles as the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary.

According to a statement issued to the public by the Director of Information Department of the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Patrick Kipangula the local daily will not be allowed to be published or distributed anywhere in the country or abroad as its license stands revoked.

“Efforts to warn, direct and remind the newspaper editors to comply with licensing terms for more than a year have failed to bear fruits due to stubbornness, controversy, and contempt for the country's authorities and at times an obvious evil intent," reads part of the statement.

As a result, the statement reads, “under the authority conferred under section 9 (b) of the Information Services Act No.12 of 2016, the Director of the Department, has revoked the license of the newspaper after warning the local daily 10 times…”

According to the statement, the newspaper itself is on record for apologizing twice for violating the professional moral code of conduct.

“In accordance with the law the publishers of the newspaper can re-apply to the Director of Information Department to be allowed to return to print and distribute, when they find themselves ready to follow procedures,” the statement further reads.

Under the current administration, Tanzania enacted strict laws on cyber-crimes and "media services." The laws allow authorities to suspend media outlets and charge journalists with sedition for publishing information deemed a threat to peace, false, or even just misleading.

Media groups say the laws are encouraging self-censorship and fuelling fears among Tanzania’s journalists that they are a target. 

Apart from Tanzania Daima Newspaper, other media outlets punished by the current administration include The Citizen, the Mawio, Kwanza Online TV, Watetezi Online Tv, Ayo Online TV, MwanaHALISI newspaper, Raia Mwema weekly newspaper and two radio stations – Africa