AFPTanzania’s three main newspapers have been banned from publishing their online editions for publishing cartoons critical of President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
The Citizen, Mwananchi and Mwanaspoti newspapers had their online licenses suspended for 30 days over the viral animated clip, which has since been deleted.
The clip, which lasted just over a minute and was posted on social media by The Citizen, highlighted the rising number of kidnappings and disappearances in the country.
The media watchdog said the content “threatens and may affect and damage national unity and social peace in the United Republic of Tanzania”.
Human rights groups accuse President Samia’s government of stifling dissent and targeting opponents ahead of next year’s election.
The move follows a recent wave of kidnappings, arrests and brutal killing of an opposition official in the country.
Wednesday’s ban affects all websites, social media and YouTube platforms of the three newspapers, which are all operated by Mwananchi Communication Limited (MCL).
Citizen magazine published the widely publicized animation on Tuesday, which authorities said violated the country’s online distribution laws.
It depicts a female cartoon character resembling Samia, wearing the iconic headscarf.
It shows the switching of roles between different stations. On each one someone complained about a family member being killed, kidnapped or missing. In the end, the character seems upset by all the complaining.
Mpoki Thomson, editor-in-chief of The Citizen, said the animation depicted “incidents that raise concerns about the safety and security of individuals in Tanzania”.
The animation was taken down hours later due to what the newspaper said was a “misunderstanding” by the public.
“Our decision to remove the anime stems from the misunderstanding it has generated, which defeats our original purpose,” Thomson said in a statement.
screenshot The audio-visual content violated the Electronic and Postal Communications (Online Content) Regulations 2020, the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) said in a statement on Wednesday.
“TCRA will suspend the online media services licenses of The Citizen, Mwananchi Digital, Mwananchi and Mwanaspoti for 30 days after publishing illegal content,” it added.
The suspension will prevent these outlets from publishing any content online “while further regulatory action is reviewed.”
The media company has assured viewers that it will continue to serve them through its daily print edition and noted that it will work with authorities to resolve the matter.
Rights groups and opposition parties condemned the ban, calling it a move to suppress media in the country.
Two years ago, bans were lifted on four newspapers that had been banned since 2016 and 2017 for exposing alleged corruption and human rights abuses.
Four newspapers, Daima, Mawio, Mwanahalisi and Mseto, have been banned from publishing for various violations under the restrictive media services law that came into effect in 2016 under late President John Magufuli.
When Samia succeeds Magufuli following his death in 2021, there are hopes that she will give the media more freedom.
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