Tanzania suspends newspaper over President, VP rift report

A report exposing alleged tensions between Tanzania’s President and her Vice President has landed Mwanahalisi newspaper a six-month suspension.

The suspension, announced by the Information Services Department, takes immediate effect and applies to both the newspaper’s print and digital editions.

Local media reports indicate that the action followed an article published earlier this month claiming that Vice-President Emmanuel Nchimbi was resisting pressure to leave his position and had differences with President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

The authorities said the report relied on anonymous sources and failed to meet expected standards of balance and verification. They also noted that Nchimbi was not contacted for comment and that statements attributed to the information minister had not been independently verified.

The government further cited an apparent error involving a photograph of the information minister, which the newspaper allegedly identified as showing Nchimbi.

The Information Services Department said the latest sanction was considered more serious than an earlier warning issued to the publication.

Mwanahalisi had previously faced regulatory action this year after publishing a story questioning whether President Hassan’s leadership style had changed since she assumed office in 2021.

The newspaper has 30 days to challenge the latest suspension under Tanzania’s Media Services Act.

The authorities have also summoned another publication, Jamvi la Habari, to respond to concerns over articles that may have breached media regulations.

Mwanahalisi was among several newspapers allowed to resume operations in February 2022 after restrictions imposed during the administration of the late President John Magufuli.

The latest action comes amid continued international concern over press freedom and broader civil liberties in Tanzania.

Reporters Without Borders ranks Tanzania 117th among 180 countries in its global press freedom assessment.

President Hassan initially received international praise after taking office in 2021 for what was viewed as an easing of restrictions affecting opposition politics and the media.