News editor ‘threatened’ in Tanzania

THE editor-in-chief of a Tanzanian newspaper suspended last week after linking two former presidents to controversial mining contracts has said he has since faced threatening anonymous phone calls.

Tanzania’s Information Ministry on Thursday imposed a twoyear suspension on the weekly, a frequent critic of the government, after it linked former presidents Jakaya Kikwete and Benjamin Mkapa to dubious mining contracts.

A recent investigation into the mining deals, ordered by current President John Magufuli, estimated that €75 billion ($84 billion) had been lost in tax evasion arising from mining operations since 1998, but did not mention the former heads of state.

Despite warnings, last week reported comments by opposition MP Tundi Lissu, who told parliament that Kikwete (20052015) and Mkapa (1995-2005) were mainly responsible for the controversial contracts and that both should be summoned before an enquiry commission.

Simon Mkina, editor-in-chief of the suspended publication, said he has received threatening, anonymous phone calls in the days since the suspension.

“One of them, a male voice, asked me if I attached any value to my life. I asked him who he was but he cut off.”

Mkina said he has informed both the board of the newspaper and the police who told him it would be difficult to act as they were anonymous calls.