Ahead of elections, Tanzania’s regulator is used as a cudgel against the media
On August 27, the second day of mainland Tanzania’s official campaign period leading up to October 28 elections, authorities ordered privately owned broadcasters Clouds TV and Clouds FM to replace their regular programming with an hours-long apology until midnight and then halt programming altogether for a week. The over-the-top display of repentance was dictated by the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), on the…
Tanzanian newspaper banned from publishing online for 6 months over COVID-19 report
On April 16, 2020, Tanzania’s communications regulator banned the privately owned Mwananchi newspaper from publishing online for six months and fined it five million Tanzanian shillings ($2,173) for allegedly publishing false news, according to a public notice by the regulator and a report by the newspaper’s sister publication, The Citizen.
Tanzania forces forums, blogs, and streaming websites to comply with draconian regulations
Nairobi, June 12, 2018– Authorities in Tanzania should immediately rescind regulations that force online forums, blogs, and streaming websites to register with the government–a process that requires them to pay large entry fees and comply with draconian regulations–and withdraw threats of legal action for noncompliance, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Tanzania slaps fines on 5 TV stations after they report on alleged human rights abuses
Nairobi, January 12, 2018–Tanzanian authorities should immediately annul fines levied against five television stations that the country’s regulatory commission accused of broadcasting seditious and unbalanced content, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.