Tanzania Daima was accused of failing to comply with warnings
DAR ES SALAAM, June 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Tanzania Daima newspaper has lost its licence for repeatedly violating the country’s laws and “the ethics of journalism”, Tanzania’s information ministry says.
From Wednesday, the privately owned paper is not allowed to publish or distribute its content anywhere in the East African nation or abroad.
“Efforts to warn, direct and remind the newspaper’s editors to comply with licensing terms for more than a year have failed to bear fruits due to stubbornness, controversy and contempt for the country’s authorities and at times an obvious evil intent,” the ministry’s statement said.
The publisher of the newspaper could re-apply for the licence to print and distribute the newspaper, it added.
It is not the first time the paper has had it licence revoked.
Meanwhile, an opposition party in Tanzania has condemned the arrest of its leader describing it as a clear act of oppression and intimidation ahead of October’s elections.
The Alliance for Change and Transparency says Zitto Kabwe and seven colleagues have been accused by the police of unlawful assembly.
A party statement says police interrupted a legal political meeting in south-east Tanzania’s Linde Region and arrested them on trumped up charges.
The east African nation will hold general elections in October. President John Magufuli, who is expected to run for a second term, dissolved parliament last week. — NNN-AGENCIES