Tanzania Suspends Media Company’s Online Platforms for 30 Days
Tanzania’s communications regulator, the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), has suspended the online platforms of Mwananchi Communications Ltd for 30 days, citing the publication of content deemed harmful to the country’s image. This decision has raised concerns among opposition groups, who claim it is an attempt to silence critical media voices.
The TCRA announced the suspension late Wednesday, stating that Mwananchi Communications had published audio-visual content on its social media platforms on October 1 that violated the Online Content Regulations of 2020. The regulator claimed the content “led to negative interpretations of the nation, affecting and disrupting unity, peace, and national harmony.” However, it did not specify what the restricted content entailed.
On the day in question, The Citizen, one of Mwananchi’s publications, shared an animated video on its X and Instagram accounts depicting a woman watching a news broadcast that featured individuals expressing concerns over missing or murdered relatives. This content was perceived as controversial, especially in light of recent events in Tanzania, including the discovery of a senior opposition official’s body, who had been abducted and reportedly tortured.
After facing backlash, The Citizen deleted the video and issued a statement claiming that the clip had been misinterpreted and did not intend to portray a negative image of Tanzania.
The suspension of Mwananchi Communications, a subsidiary of the Kenyan-based Nation Media Group, comes at a time when the Tanzanian government is under scrutiny for its treatment of the press.
Although President Samia Suluhu Hassan has received praise for easing media restrictions and lifting bans on political rallies, critics argue that recent actions, including the ban on certain protests and the detention of opposition leaders and journalists, indicate a regression in freedom of expression.
Rahma Mwita, shadow minister of information for Tanzania’s second-largest opposition party, ACT-Wazalendo, condemned the suspension, calling for the government to revoke the ban and accusing it of stifling media that exposes the challenges facing Tanzanians.
In response to the TCRA’s order, Mwananchi Communications stated that it would comply with the suspension while expressing its commitment to upholding journalistic integrity and the right to inform the public.
Additional source: Reuters
