About IFEX:

News by region:

IFEX Campaigns and Advocacy:

IFEX Email Products:

Opportunities and assistance:

Alert

Minister takes legal action against three journalists over critical article

(MISA/IFEX) - On 5 July 2006, Tanzania's minister of land and settlements development, John Magufuli, instituted criminal proceedings at Dodoma police station against two editors and one journalist of a privately-owned media house, Habari Corporation. The accused, Mr. John Bwire (chief editor), Mr. Muhingo Rweyemamu (editor), and Mr. Nephilitius Kyaruzi (journalist), were summoned only on 24 August to the Kijitonyama police station.

The allegations arose from an article in "Rai" newspaper, a publication of Habari Corporation, issued in July 2006, in which the tabloid published information relating to the funds for the construction of the Usagara-Chato road. The article reported that Members of Parliament from Tanzania's Mwanza region had questioned the reasons for non-completion of the said road despite the allocation of funds for its construction in the 2005/2006 budget.

The tabloid further reported that the funds for the road's construction had been depleted and yet the road was not complete. It also reported that the road was diverted for 15 kilometres from the targeted destination towards Magufuli's constituency.

The three journalists were summoned and held for six hours at the Kijitonyama police station, in Dar es Salaam, where they were made to submit statements in relation to the allegations. They were released from custody the same day.