Tanzania
The Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition has called for an end to the ban of a newspaper that began nearly six months ago.
MwanaHalisi was banned under the Newspaper Act of 1976, which has been previously used to either suspend or shut down newspapers deemed critical of the government.
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Issa Ngumba, a special correspondent for Radio Kwizera in the Kigoma region, was found dead on Tuesday, 8 January 2013, three days after he went missing under mysterious circumstances.
Tanzanian police may be responsible for the eventual death of journalist Daudi Mwangosi, who died on 2 September 2012 after a confrontation with members of the Field Force Unit (FFU), a quasi-military wing of the police force.
Tanzanian journalist Daudi Mwangosi died during a clash between police forces and supporters of Tanzania's largest political opposition party.
Local journalists suspect the ban may be related to a series of articles in the paper linking authorities to the kidnap and torture in late June of a physician who had led a doctor's strike.
MISA notes that Tanzania has a progressive and functioning media council that could have been engaged by the state in order to seek redress. That the charges are based on the Newspaper Act speaks to the need for continuous review and tangible reform of legislation that governs media operations in the country.
Sixteen human rights activists were detained in Dar es Salaam on allegations of illegal assembly and breach of peace.
The "RAI" newspaper and columnist Prince Bagenda have been fined approximately US$9,000 in total.
ARTICLE 19's submission highlights the restrictive legislation regarding the media and freedom of expression; the lack of comprehensive access to information legislation; frequent attacks on journalists, human rights defenders and media workers.
The Tanzanian government has threatened to deregister the "Mwananchi" and "MwanaHalisi" newspapers for publishing materials with the intention of inciting chaos.
The government has shut down the "Leo Tena" newspaper and suspended publication of the "Kulikoni" newspaper for 90 days.
Unidentified individuals broke into journalist Fredrick Katulanda's home, attacked him and demanded that he hand over a document he had received from a source.
Police in the Singida region interrogated freelance journalist Jumbe Ismailly for allegedly defaming Regional Commissioner Parseko Kone.
After suffering a government ban for three months for allegedly tarnishing the name of the head of state and personal attacks that left its editor, Saed Kubenea, almost blind, the "Mwanahalisi" newspaper has now challenged the constitutionality of the Newspapers Act.
The High Court of Tanzania has ordered the weekly newspaper "Mwanahalisi", as well as two printing companies to pay a sum of 3 billion Tanzania shilling
(MISA/IFEX) - On 13 February 2009, the Tanzanian minister of information, sports and culture ordered three newspapers to provide reasons why they published what he calls "defamatory" news reports. The newspapers in question are "Taifa Letu", "Sema Usikize" and "Taifa Tanzania".
Tanzania's journalists took to the streets of Dar es Salaam last week to protest against the three-month banning of a newspaper that exposed official corruption. According to the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), it was the first time in Tanzania's history that journalists marched against the government, accusing it of trying to stifle media freedom in the country.
(MISA/IFEX) - The Africa Press Agency reports that journalists from various media houses have demonstrated their displeasure at the suppression of press freedom in Tanzania during a protest march on 29 October 2008 in Dar es Salaam.
(MISA/IFEX) - On 8 October 2008, Tanzania's Freedom of Information Bill Coalition Campaign submitted a draft Media Services Bill to the Minister of Information and Culture, Hon. George Mkuchika, at his offices in the capital Dar es Salaam. The draft is part of civil society efforts to advocate for media policy changes in Tanzania.
(MISA/IFEX) - The Tanzanian government has suspended "Mwanahalisi" newspaper for its alleged practice of running stories with the intention of "inciting public hatred" against the president and contributing to misunderstanding within the president's family.
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