Tanzania suspends paper after report on ruling party divisions

Tanzania ranks 117th out of 180 countries in press freedom, according to the media watchdog Reporters Without Borders.(AFP) — Tanzania has suspended a weekly newspaper for six months over alleged violations of media law, the Information Ministry said Wednesday, after the outlet published a story alleging divisions within the government.International observers have warned of narrowing civil and political rights in the country, which last year saw hundreds killed during election unrest.The suspension of Mwanahalisi — a newspaper long critical of the government — takes effect immediately and applies to both its print and electronic editions, the Information Services Department said in a Swahili-language statement.Authorities said the suspension followed the publication of a story earlier this month alleging Tanzania’s vice president, Emmanuel Nchimbi, was unwilling to step down amid pressure from the ruling party.Citing anonymous sources, the paper alleged Nchimbi had disagreed with President Samia Suluhu Hassan.Authorities said the report lacked balance and verification, noting that Nchimbi had not been interviewed and that claims attributed to the country’s information minister had not been independently confirmed.“The Director of Information Services determined that the newspaper should receive a more severe penalty than the previous one,” the statement said.Earlier this year, the outlet was issued a warning after publishing a story loosely translated as, “When will the 2021 Samia meet the 2026 Samia?”Hassan became president following the death of authoritarian leader John Magufuli in March 2021 and was initially praised for easing restrictions on the opposition and the media.Authorities also cited an error involving a photograph of the information minister that was captioned as Nchimbi.Under Tanzania’s Media Services Act, the newspaper has 30 days to appeal the decision.The government added that it had summoned another newspaper, Jamvi la Habari, to explain recent stories that may have violated regulations.Mwanahalisi was among four newspapers allowed to resume publishing in February 2022 after being banned under Magufuli.Tanzania has suspended a weekly newspaper for six months over alleged violations of media law, the Information Ministry said Wednesday, after the outlet published a story alleging divisions within the government.International observers have warned of narrowing civil and political rights in the country, which last year saw hundreds killed during election unrest.The suspension of Mwanahalisi — a newspaper long critical of the government — takes effect immediately and applies to both its print and electronic editions, the Information Services Department said in a Swahili-language statement.Authorities said the suspension followed the publication of a story earlier this month alleging Tanzania’s vice president, Emmanuel Nchimbi, was unwilling to step down amid pressure from the ruling party.Citing anonymous sources, the paper alleged Nchimbi had disagreed with President Samia Suluhu Hassan.Authorities said the report lacked balance and verification, noting that Nchimbi had not been interviewed and that claims attributed to the country’s information minister had not been independently confirmed.“The Director of Information Services determined that the newspaper should receive a more severe penalty than the previous one,” the statement said.Earlier this year, the outlet was issued a warning after publishing a story loosely translated as, “When will the 2021 Samia meet the 2026 Samia?”Hassan became president following the death of authoritarian leader John Magufuli in March 2021 and was initially praised for easing restrictions on the opposition and the media.Authorities also cited an error involving a photograph of the information minister that was captioned as Nchimbi.Under Tanzania’s Media Services Act, the newspaper has 30 days to appeal the decision.The government added that it had summoned another newspaper, Jamvi la Habari, to explain recent stories that may have violated regulations.Mwanahalisi was among four newspapers allowed to resume publishing in February 2022 after being banned under Magufuli.Tanzania ranks 117th out of 180 countries in press freedom, according to the media watchdog Reporters Without Borders.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads