A Tanzanian Newspaper was on Tuesday suspended for two years for incitement and endangering national security.
Mwanahalisi, according to the government’s spokesperson, Hassan Abbasi, was closed down for publishing a letter from one of its readers insulting President John Pombe Magufuli.
“Government is suspending printing and publication of the Mwanahalisi newspaper for 24 months,” said Abbasi.
The daily was last shut down in 2015, 2012 and for three months in 2008.
Abbasi noted that the local daily had received several warnings prior to the suspension.
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The insulting letter read: ”Magufuli claims to be a patriot but questions the patriotism of anyone who opposes him. This is hypocritical.”
The reader mocks the president’s regular calls for prayer and instead asks if one should not rather pray for Singida Mp, Tundu Lissu who was shot only recently.
Magufuli has since taking office shut down newspapers, banned opposition rallies, switched off live broadcasts of parliamentary sessions and jailed critics.
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2 Comments
For someone with no known major political threats, Mr Magufuli is becoming quite thin-skinned even for an Afican president. He should spend time with Mr Kibaki who’ll enlighten him on ways to keep calm in political storms and still deliver for the country.