Tanzania carries out threat to shut newspapers

DAR ES SALAAM: Tanzania’s government has closed a critical newspaper for the second time in three months, banning the weekly MwanaHalisi for two years after accusing it of inciting violence.

Another newspaper – Mawio – was banned in June over articles it published linking two former presidents to alleged improprieties in mining deals signed in the 1990s and early 2000s.

The moves appear to cement President John Magufuli’s pledge in January that the days of newspapers his government viewed as unethical “were numbered”.

“The government has suspended publication and circulation of MwanaHalisi newspaper due to repeated unethical reporting, publishing fabricated and inciting articles and endangering national security,” the state-run Tanzania Information Services said.

The body said MwanaHalisi published inciteful articles about Magafuli, and its editors refused to apologise.

On Monday, the tabloid MwanaHalisi carried a story with the headline, “Tumuombee nani, Magufuli

au Tundu Lissu?” – “Whom should we pray for: Magufuli or Tundu Lissu?” Lissu is an opposition MP who was recently wounded when he was shot by gunmen in Dodoma.

In January, the government said, the tabloid published a story with a Kiswahili headline: “Ufisadi

ndani ya Ofisi ya JPM” – “Corruption within JPM office”. JPM is a popular acronym for John Pombe Magufuli but the story was about a Kibaha education institution.

Magufuli, nicknamed “the bulldozer”, has won praise from Western donors for an anti-corruption drive and cutting wasteful public spending.

Opponents accuse him of undermining democracy by stifling free speech.

Tanzania has one of the most diverse media industries in Africa, with more than 450 registered newspapers and journals, as well as 180 radio and television stations.

Last November, the Media Services Act was signed into law. It gives officials powers to shut down media organisations that violate their licences and requires newspapers to apply for an annual licence.