Reported by
Faridah N Kulumba
The new Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has ordered the lift on media outlets that were closed under former president John Pombe Magufuli administration who died due to heart condition on March 17 2021. President Samia made a remark at the State House, during an event to swear in newly appointed permanent secretaries, when she directed authorities to lift a ban on media and asked the information ministry to ensure that the concerned media follow the law.
The soft-spoken president Samia said that the government must not be seen to curtail media freedom. “I am also told that you revoked licences of some media outlets, including some online television stations. You should lift the ban but tell them to follow the law and government guidelines,” said Ms Hassan. She also added that let us not give them a chance to say that we are limiting press freedom Africa reported.
Why did Magufuli ban some media outlets?
Tanzanian media organisations were shut down for a long time, after publishing materials that did not please the Magufuli government. According to The Conversation Tanzanian authorities have worked to control the press since 2013.
But during president Magufuli’s regime who came to power in 2015, legislative and regulatory reforms have resulted in a framework that continued to target the media, especially online publications.
During his first year two radio stations were closed, one newspaper was banned and editors were briefly detained. And also the online televisions were banned during his administration.
The media laws which were imposed during Magufuli’s regime.
The new legal actions and regulations that heavily restrict journalism in Tanzania were imposed, including the 2015 Cybercrimes Act which designated jail time for “insulting” Magufuli. In 2016 the Media Service Act was put in order, which designates jail time for sedition.
And in 2018 the electronic and postal communications regulations were enacted, targeting forums, blogs, and streaming websites. They have been forced to pay heavy registration fees. And if they fail to pay, they risk imprisonment or heavier fines.
These regulations forced some civil society organisations from around the world to write an open letter to President Magufuli, calling for him to address the rapid decline in press freedom and human rights in Tanzania.
Will all media outlets ban be lifted?
According to the tweet from Gerson Msigwa the newly appointed government spokesman, he said that the president had given instructions “to lift the ban on online televisions only and not other media, including newspapers that were banned according to the laws,” said Msigwa.
The Minister for Information Innocent Bashungwa also told The Reuters that the government will first consult the laws involved in banning newspapers.
But all in all President Samia’s order to lift the ban on the media was welcomed by some activists and advocates of press freedom.
James Ouma a media activist, told African Report that the government of Tanzania to use power to limit freedom of the press is unnecessary, and if the new president reverses this trend and lifts the ban, it will improve conditions for journalists in Tanzania.
