Godfrey Thomas Ng’omba, bureau chief with privately owned Ayo TV, was arrested on October 29, 2025, Tanzania’s election day, which was marked by mass anti-government protests, violence, and deaths.
Ng’omba was detained for six days in the northern city of Arusha and released on bail on November 4, only to be re-arrested on November 7 on charges of conspiracy to commit an offense and treason, along with 62 co-defendants, according to the charge sheet, reviewed by CPJ, which did not specify which actions amounted to the offenses.
Prosecutors cited Section 384 of Tanzania’s penal code, which stipulates up to seven years in prison for conspiracy, and Section 39 (2)(d), which says any person who intends or instigates others in “intimidation of the Executive, the Legislature or the Judiciary … and manifests such intention by publishing any writing or printing or by any overt act or deed” is guilty of treason and will be sentenced to death upon conviction.
The charge sheet said the accused sought to obstruct the election “for the purpose of intimidation [of] the Executive” and “manifested such intention by causing serious damage to Government properties.”
On November 25, Ng’omba was released, as authorities withdrew hundreds of charges, including for treason, following a presidential directive.
Several hundred or more Tanzanians were killed in protests that followed the disputed elections, including three journalists, while authorities said they arrested 2,045 people.
CPJ did not receive responses to November 2025 emails requesting comment from the office of the government spokesperson and the police or queries sent via messaging app to chief government spokesperson Gerson Msigwa and police spokesperson David Misime.