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Tanzania Press Regulations Raise Concerns

Charles Kombe

   DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA - Tanzanianrights activists and mediaoutletsare
   accusing the government of limiting press freedom after the release of
   new content regulations. The rules, which went into effect this
   week,prohibit local media from broadcasting foreign media content
   without government permission and require local journalists working
   with foreign reporters to have a government minder.

   Radio Free Africa, a local radio station based in Mwanza region,was
   questionedMondayby the regulatory body after airing abroadcast fromthe
   BBC Swahili service that includedan interview with opposition
   presidential candidate TunduLissu.The regulatory authority complained
   thatthe interview lackedbalance.

   Rights groups saythe aim ofTanzanian authorities is to restrict press
   freedom in the country.

   "These are regulations that didn't involve stakeholders and there are
   various things that have been seen,"JebraKambole, an independent lawyer
   and human rights activist told VOA, "including heavy penalties,
   imprisonment and fines."

   He addedthat when it comes to freedom of expression and
   imprisonment,this leads to fear among the media and citizens,
   limitingtheir freedom of expression and access to information.

   Journalists likeSufianiJuma see the new regulationsas restricting the
   way they do their jobs.

   Juma saidthis is a series of events that involves suppression of press
   freedom and threats to journalists, adding that this is the way the
   governmentis forcingjournalists andthemedia to report only stories
   about the government.

   Leopold Mosha, a human rightsactivist from the Tanzania Human Rights
   Defenders Coalition,is urgingthe government to remove what he calledall
   contradictory and suppressive regulations.

   "I think the good thing is to completely erase these regulations and to
   remove all the segments that are contradictory to our constitution," he
   told VOA, "especially those that prohibit
   peoplefromexpressingthemselves and sharingtheir opinions especially as
   we are heading to the general election."

   Mosha addedthat media and citizens should be granted the right to
   conduct debates,share and receive information without any oppressive
   restrictions.

   In an interview with the BBC, Tanzanian Information Minister Harrison
   Mwakyembesaidthe governmenthas not bannedforeign content in the local
   media.Instead, he said,the new regulations will enable the government
   to know whichstationsairing programs in Tanzania havepartnered with
   foreign broadcasters.

   But with Tanzania expected to holdgeneral elections in October, the
   governmentmovehas raisedfurther questions about the state of democracy
   and free speech in the country.

   In a statement Friday, Acting VOA Director ElezBiberajsaid this is the
   first time Tanzania or any East African government has made such a
   brazen move to restrict press freedom.If this is not reversed, he said,
   the Tanzanian people will be denied important information as they
   prepare to go to the polls.

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