CPJ calls on Tanzania’s Magufuli to drop Kabendera charges, investigate Gwanda case

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CPJ calls on Tanzania’s Magufuli to drop Kabendera charges, investigate Gwanda case

August 12, 2019 2:18 PM

August 12, 2019

President John Magufuli
1 Barack Obama Drive
11400, Kivukoni, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Sent via email

Dear President Magufuli,

I write to you from the Committee to Protect Journalists, an organization that advocates for press freedom worldwide, to urge your government to drop charges against freelance journalist Erick Kabendera and provide a public accounting of the fate of missing journalist Azory Gwanda.

Just last month at the Defend Media Freedom Conference in London, Foreign Minister Palamagamba Kabudi affirmedthat your government wants to “facilitate investigative journalism” and “ensure that journalists are protected against any actions, persecution or impunity.” Allowing Kabendera to return to his work, and taking Gwanda’s disappearance seriously, would be important step toward fulfilling these pledges.

Kabendera was taken forcefully from his home on July 29, 2019, and denied accessto a lawyer for more than 24 hours. Police initially claimed they were investigating Kabendera’s citizenship. However, days after his arrest prosecutors switched tracksand charged him with economic crimes, for which he cannot qualify for bail. He was moved between police stations several times during his interrogation. The manner of his arrest and detention suggests retaliation that seeks to silence his critical reporting, including on divisions within the ruling party.

Gwanda also worked as a freelance journalist, based in the Coast Region. He went missing on November 21, 2017, in the company of unidentified men believed to be security personnel. Prior to that, Gwanda chronicled mysterious killings and abductions, including of ruling party officials and police officers. Despite calls for an investigation from his family, Tanzanian media and civil society, and United Nations experts, there has been no credible accounting for his fate. Instead, officials have sent mixed signals about their knowledge of his whereabouts while stonewalling about progress in the investigation.

In a July interview, Foreign Minister Kabudi claimed that Gwanda was one of many people who had “disappeared and died” in the Rufiji region. Although Kabudi later saidhis comments were taken out of context and he did not know Gwanda’s fate, his comments are deeply troubling and underscore the urgent need to investigate what has happened to this journalist.

These cases strike fear in the local media community and have the potential to exacerbate a culture of self-censorship, as journalists retreat from critical reporting for fear of facing a similar fate. They are also emblematic of the rapid deterioration of press freedom in Tanzania, which has included the suspension of media outlets on specious allegations, restrictive regulation, and legal harassment of journalists, as CPJ has documented.

The public commitments that Tanzania has made to press freedom will remain empty words without urgent action. The goals your government has set for itself, including rooting out corruption, cannot be fulfilled without a press that is able to operate independently, safely, and without fear of retaliation. We therefore urge your government to immediately free Kabendera and drop all charges against him, and ensure that Gwanda’s case is investigated thoroughly and the findings made public.

We would welcome an opportunity to meet representatives of your government to discuss these concerns.

Sincerely,

Joel Simon
Executive Director

CC: Foreign Minister Prof Palamagamba Kabudi
Information Minister Dr Harrison Mwakyembe
Chief Secretary in the Presidency Ambassador John William Kijazi
United Nations Permanent Representative Ambassador Modest Mero
 
Hakika sauti hizi zitamwamsha mshamba alielala.
Ni kweli dunia ilikuwa na zama za giza, na bado masalia yapo, waugwana duniani wanaungana kukemea na kutokomeza giza, ili dunia iwe pahala bora zaidi kwa mwanadamu kuishi.
Tusikae kimya kwa yeyote anaeharibu umoja na ustawi wa taifa letu.Tudai katiba bora tuwe na mihimili yenye uwezo checks and balance.
 
CPJ calls on Tanzania’s Magufuli to drop Kabendera charges, investigate Gwanda case

August 12, 2019 2:18 PM

August 12, 2019

President John Magufuli
1 Barack Obama Drive
11400, Kivukoni, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Sent via email

Dear President Magufuli,

I write to you from the Committee to Protect Journalists, an organization that advocates for press freedom worldwide, to urge your government to drop charges against freelance journalist Erick Kabendera and provide a public accounting of the fate of missing journalist Azory Gwanda.

Just last month at the Defend Media Freedom Conference in London, Foreign Minister Palamagamba Kabudi affirmedthat your government wants to “facilitate investigative journalism” and “ensure that journalists are protected against any actions, persecution or impunity.” Allowing Kabendera to return to his work, and taking Gwanda’s disappearance seriously, would be important step toward fulfilling these pledges.

Kabendera was taken forcefully from his home on July 29, 2019, and denied accessto a lawyer for more than 24 hours. Police initially claimed they were investigating Kabendera’s citizenship. However, days after his arrest prosecutors switched tracksand charged him with economic crimes, for which he cannot qualify for bail. He was moved between police stations several times during his interrogation. The manner of his arrest and detention suggests retaliation that seeks to silence his critical reporting, including on divisions within the ruling party.

Gwanda also worked as a freelance journalist, based in the Coast Region. He went missing on November 21, 2017, in the company of unidentified men believed to be security personnel. Prior to that, Gwanda chronicled mysterious killings and abductions, including of ruling party officials and police officers. Despite calls for an investigation from his family, Tanzanian media and civil society, and United Nations experts, there has been no credible accounting for his fate. Instead, officials have sent mixed signals about their knowledge of his whereabouts while stonewalling about progress in the investigation.

In a July interview, Foreign Minister Kabudi claimed that Gwanda was one of many people who had “disappeared and died” in the Rufiji region. Although Kabudi later saidhis comments were taken out of context and he did not know Gwanda’s fate, his comments are deeply troubling and underscore the urgent need to investigate what has happened to this journalist.

These cases strike fear in the local media community and have the potential to exacerbate a culture of self-censorship, as journalists retreat from critical reporting for fear of facing a similar fate. They are also emblematic of the rapid deterioration of press freedom in Tanzania, which has included the suspension of media outlets on specious allegations, restrictive regulation, and legal harassment of journalists, as CPJ has documented.

The public commitments that Tanzania has made to press freedom will remain empty words without urgent action. The goals your government has set for itself, including rooting out corruption, cannot be fulfilled without a press that is able to operate independently, safely, and without fear of retaliation. We therefore urge your government to immediately free Kabendera and drop all charges against him, and ensure that Gwanda’s case is investigated thoroughly and the findings made public.

We would welcome an opportunity to meet representatives of your government to discuss these concerns.

Sincerely,

Joel Simon
Executive Director

CC: Foreign Minister Prof Palamagamba Kabudi
Information Minister Dr Harrison Mwakyembe
Chief Secretary in the Presidency Ambassador John William Kijazi
United Nations Permanent Representative Ambassador Modest Mero
Poor and stupid CPJ. This is now absurd! When you wish seeing one person exonerated, you totally forget previous application for free justice. Leave the legal system free from government interferences! CPJ is the same that have been shouting against any signs of interfering with the country's legal system!

By appealing to the President, CPJ recognises the need for the same President to freely interfere with the country's legal system. If not, this statement sounds stupid.
 
Hakika sauti hizi zitamwamsha mshamba alielala.
Ni kweli dunia ilikuwa na zama za giza, na bado masalia yapo, waugwana duniani wanaungana kukemea na kutokomeza giza, ili dunia iwe pahala bora zaidi kwa mwanadamu kuishi.
Tusikae kimya kwa yeyote anaeharibu umoja na ustawi wa taifa letu.Tudai katiba bora tuwe na mihimili yenye uwezo checks and balance.
Wewe mshangiliaji bila kujua unachoshangilia. Power ya rais ni baada ya hukumu. Baada ya sheria kuchukua mkondo wake. Nawe unashangilia tu chochote kinachosemwa sawa na unachokipenda!
 
August 13, 2019
New York USA

Kamati ya Kimataifa Kutetea Wanahabari Ulimwengu CPJ kwa ajili ya Kulinda huru wa habari yenye makao yake makuu jijini New York Marekani imeandika barua ya wazi kwa Mh. Rais Dkt. John Pombe Joseph Magufuli.

Barua hiyo imeeleza ni mwezi mmoja uliopita tu jijini London mbele ya Jumuiya ya Kimataifa toka Waziri wa Masuala ya Kigeni Tanzania Prof. Palamagamba Kabudi kutoa tamko kwa ulimwengu kuwa serikali ya Tanzania itahakikisha uhuru wa habari kuenziwa Tanzania...lakini hali halisi inayoendelea Tanzania ni kinyume na ahadi iliyotolewa na Waziri huyo mwandamizi ktk serikali ya Tanzania.


Barua yenye kutoka CPJ:

President John Magufuli
1 Barack Obama Drive
11400, Kivukoni, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Sent via email

Dear President Magufuli,

I write to you from the Committee to Protect Journalists, an organization that advocates for press freedom worldwide, to urge your government to drop charges against freelance journalist Erick Kabendera and provide a public accounting of the fate of missing journalist Azory Gwanda.

Just last month at the Defend Media Freedom Conference in London, Foreign Minister Palamagamba Kabudi affirmedthat your government wants to “facilitate investigative journalism” and “ensure that journalists are protected against any actions, persecution or impunity.” Allowing Kabendera to return to his work, and taking Gwanda’s disappearance seriously, would be important step toward fulfilling these pledges.

Kabendera was taken forcefully from his home on July 29, 2019, and denied accessto a lawyer for more than 24 hours. Police initially claimed they were investigating Kabendera’s citizenship. However, days after his arrest prosecutors switched tracksand charged him with economic crimes, for which he cannot qualify for bail. He was moved between police stations several times during his interrogation. The manner of his arrest and detention suggests retaliation that seeks to silence his critical reporting, including on divisions within the ruling party.

Gwanda also worked as a freelance journalist, based in the Coast Region. He went missing on November 21, 2017, in the company of unidentified men believed to be security personnel. Prior to that, Gwanda chronicled mysterious killings and abductions, including of ruling party officials and police officers. Despite calls for an investigation from his family, Tanzanian media and civil society, and United Nations experts, there has been no credible accounting for his fate. Instead, officials have sent mixed signals about their knowledge of his whereabouts while stonewalling about progress in the investigation.

In a July interview, Foreign Minister Kabudi claimed that Gwanda was one of many people who had “disappeared and died” in the Rufiji region. Although Kabudi later saidhis comments were taken out of context and he did not know Gwanda’s fate, his comments are deeply troubling and underscore the urgent need to investigate what has happened to this journalist.

These cases strike fear in the local media community and have the potential to exacerbate a culture of self-censorship, as journalists retreat from critical reporting for fear of facing a similar fate. They are also emblematic of the rapid deterioration of press freedom in Tanzania, which has included the suspension of media outletson specious allegations, restrictive regulation, and legal harassment of journalists, as CPJ has documented.

The public commitments that Tanzania has made to press freedom will remain empty words without urgent action. The goals your government has set for itself, including rooting out corruption, cannot be fulfilled without a press that is able to operate independently, safely, and without fear of retaliation. We therefore urge your government to immediately free Kabendera and drop all charges against him, and ensure that Gwanda’s case is investigated thoroughly and the findings made public.

We would welcome an opportunity to meet representatives of your government to discuss these concerns.


Sincerely,

Joel Simon
Executive Director

CC: Foreign Minister Prof Palamagamba Kabudi
Information Minister Dr Harrison Mwakyembe
Chief Secretary in the Presidency Ambassador John William Kijazi
United Nations Permanent Representative Ambassador Modest Mero
Source: http://cpj.org /2019/8 /CPJ- calls-on-Tanzanias-Magufuli-to-drop-Kabendera-charges
 
August 13, 2019
New York USA

Barua ya Wazi toka CPJ kwa Mh. Rais Dkt. John Pombe Joseph Magufuli


Barua yenye kutoka CPJ:

President John Magufuli
1 Barack Obama Drive
11400, Kivukoni, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Sent via email

Dear President Magufuli,

I write to you from the Committee to Protect Journalists, an organization that advocates for press freedom worldwide, to urge your government to drop charges against freelance journalist Erick Kabendera and provide a public accounting of the fate of missing journalist Azory Gwanda.

Just last month at the Defend Media Freedom Conference in London, Foreign Minister Palamagamba Kabudi affirmedthat your government wants to “facilitate investigative journalism” and “ensure that journalists are protected against any actions, persecution or impunity.” Allowing Kabendera to return to his work, and taking Gwanda’s disappearance seriously, would be important step toward fulfilling these pledges.

Kabendera was taken forcefully from his home on July 29, 2019, and denied accessto a lawyer for more than 24 hours. Police initially claimed they were investigating Kabendera’s citizenship. However, days after his arrest prosecutors switched tracksand charged him with economic crimes, for which he cannot qualify for bail. He was moved between police stations several times during his interrogation. The manner of his arrest and detention suggests retaliation that seeks to silence his critical reporting, including on divisions within the ruling party.

Gwanda also worked as a freelance journalist, based in the Coast Region. He went missing on November 21, 2017, in the company of unidentified men believed to be security personnel. Prior to that, Gwanda chronicled mysterious killings and abductions, including of ruling party officials and police officers. Despite calls for an investigation from his family, Tanzanian media and civil society, and United Nations experts, there has been no credible accounting for his fate. Instead, officials have sent mixed signals about their knowledge of his whereabouts while stonewalling about progress in the investigation.

In a July interview, Foreign Minister Kabudi claimed that Gwanda was one of many people who had “disappeared and died” in the Rufiji region. Although Kabudi later saidhis comments were taken out of context and he did not know Gwanda’s fate, his comments are deeply troubling and underscore the urgent need to investigate what has happened to this journalist.

These cases strike fear in the local media community and have the potential to exacerbate a culture of self-censorship, as journalists retreat from critical reporting for fear of facing a similar fate. They are also emblematic of the rapid deterioration of press freedom in Tanzania, which has included the suspension of media outletson specious allegations, restrictive regulation, and legal harassment of journalists, as CPJ has documented.

The public commitments that Tanzania has made to press freedom will remain empty words without urgent action. The goals your government has set for itself, including rooting out corruption, cannot be fulfilled without a press that is able to operate independently, safely, and without fear of retaliation. We therefore urge your government to immediately free Kabendera and drop all charges against him, and ensure that Gwanda’s case is investigated thoroughly and the findings made public.

We would welcome an opportunity to meet representatives of your government to discuss these concerns.


Sincerely,

Joel Simon
Executive Director

CC: Foreign Minister Prof Palamagamba Kabudi
Information Minister Dr Harrison Mwakyembe
Chief Secretary in the Presidency Ambassador John William Kijazi
United Nations Permanent Representative Ambassador Modest Mero
Source: http://cpj.org /2019/8 /CPJ- calls-on-Tanzanias-Magufuli-to-drop-Kabendera-charges
Rubbish!
 
July 2019
London UK
Press Freedom Conference
BBC interview with Prof. Palamagamba Kabudi while attending a Global conference on Media Freedom which was co-funded by the Governments of Canada and the UK
 
CPJ calls on Tanzania’s Magufuli to drop Kabendera charges, investigate Gwanda case

August 12, 2019 2:18 PM

August 12, 2019

President John Magufuli
1 Barack Obama Drive
11400, Kivukoni, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Sent via email

Dear President Magufuli,

I write to you from the Committee to Protect Journalists, an organization that advocates for press freedom worldwide, to urge your government to drop charges against freelance journalist Erick Kabendera and provide a public accounting of the fate of missing journalist Azory Gwanda.

Just last month at the Defend Media Freedom Conference in London, Foreign Minister Palamagamba Kabudi affirmedthat your government wants to “facilitate investigative journalism” and “ensure that journalists are protected against any actions, persecution or impunity.” Allowing Kabendera to return to his work, and taking Gwanda’s disappearance seriously, would be important step toward fulfilling these pledges.

Kabendera was taken forcefully from his home on July 29, 2019, and denied accessto a lawyer for more than 24 hours. Police initially claimed they were investigating Kabendera’s citizenship. However, days after his arrest prosecutors switched tracksand charged him with economic crimes, for which he cannot qualify for bail. He was moved between police stations several times during his interrogation. The manner of his arrest and detention suggests retaliation that seeks to silence his critical reporting, including on divisions within the ruling party.

Gwanda also worked as a freelance journalist, based in the Coast Region. He went missing on November 21, 2017, in the company of unidentified men believed to be security personnel. Prior to that, Gwanda chronicled mysterious killings and abductions, including of ruling party officials and police officers. Despite calls for an investigation from his family, Tanzanian media and civil society, and United Nations experts, there has been no credible accounting for his fate. Instead, officials have sent mixed signals about their knowledge of his whereabouts while stonewalling about progress in the investigation.

In a July interview, Foreign Minister Kabudi claimed that Gwanda was one of many people who had “disappeared and died” in the Rufiji region. Although Kabudi later saidhis comments were taken out of context and he did not know Gwanda’s fate, his comments are deeply troubling and underscore the urgent need to investigate what has happened to this journalist.

These cases strike fear in the local media community and have the potential to exacerbate a culture of self-censorship, as journalists retreat from critical reporting for fear of facing a similar fate. They are also emblematic of the rapid deterioration of press freedom in Tanzania, which has included the suspension of media outlets on specious allegations, restrictive regulation, and legal harassment of journalists, as CPJ has documented.

The public commitments that Tanzania has made to press freedom will remain empty words without urgent action. The goals your government has set for itself, including rooting out corruption, cannot be fulfilled without a press that is able to operate independently, safely, and without fear of retaliation. We therefore urge your government to immediately free Kabendera and drop all charges against him, and ensure that Gwanda’s case is investigated thoroughly and the findings made public.

We would welcome an opportunity to meet representatives of your government to discuss these concerns.

Sincerely,

Joel Simon
Executive Director

CC: Foreign Minister Prof Palamagamba Kabudi
Information Minister Dr Harrison Mwakyembe
Chief Secretary in the Presidency Ambassador John William Kijazi
United Nations Permanent Representative Ambassador Modest Mero
It's very wrong to call for dropping of charges when there is suspicion of one having committed crime(s). At best you can call for timeous expedition of the process and let the court decide if the suspect is guilty or not. Why should the charges be dropped; and why only this suspect? One has the right to exercise one's duties only if that is done within certain parameters, in cognisance of one's responsibilities. Why should a crime of money laundering, for instance, be dropped just because the suspect is an investigative journalist? Timing of the charges is irrelevant. It can be that investigations were on -going and arrest was awaiting gathering of enough evidence to bring to court. Give the government a break!
 
It's very wrong to call for dropping of charges when there is suspicion of one having committed crime(s). At best you can call for timeous expedition of the process and let the court decide if the suspect is guilty or not. Why should the charges be dropped; and why only this suspect? One has the right to exercise one's duties only if that is done within certain parameters, in cognisance of one's responsibilities. Why should a crime of money laundering, for instance, be dropped just because the suspect is an investigative journalist? Timing of the charges is irrelevant. It can be that investigations were on -going and arrest was awaiting gathering of enough evidence to bring to court. Give the government a break!
Those are not the charges he was arrested and interrogated for! Thats the whole point. You cant arrest someone for theft and interrogate them for such allegation and showas up in court room charged with sexual assault! Hope that clears your mind.
 
CPJ calls on Tanzania’s Magufuli to drop Kabendera charges, investigate Gwanda case

August 12, 2019 2:18 PM

August 12, 2019

President John Magufuli
1 Barack Obama Drive
11400, Kivukoni, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Sent via email

Dear President Magufuli,

I write to you from the Committee to Protect Journalists, an organization that advocates for press freedom worldwide, to urge your government to drop charges against freelance journalist Erick Kabendera and provide a public accounting of the fate of missing journalist Azory Gwanda.

Just last month at the Defend Media Freedom Conference in London, Foreign Minister Palamagamba Kabudi affirmedthat your government wants to “facilitate investigative journalism” and “ensure that journalists are protected against any actions, persecution or impunity.” Allowing Kabendera to return to his work, and taking Gwanda’s disappearance seriously, would be important step toward fulfilling these pledges.

Kabendera was taken forcefully from his home on July 29, 2019, and denied accessto a lawyer for more than 24 hours. Police initially claimed they were investigating Kabendera’s citizenship. However, days after his arrest prosecutors switched tracksand charged him with economic crimes, for which he cannot qualify for bail. He was moved between police stations several times during his interrogation. The manner of his arrest and detention suggests retaliation that seeks to silence his critical reporting, including on divisions within the ruling party.

Gwanda also worked as a freelance journalist, based in the Coast Region. He went missing on November 21, 2017, in the company of unidentified men believed to be security personnel. Prior to that, Gwanda chronicled mysterious killings and abductions, including of ruling party officials and police officers. Despite calls for an investigation from his family, Tanzanian media and civil society, and United Nations experts, there has been no credible accounting for his fate. Instead, officials have sent mixed signals about their knowledge of his whereabouts while stonewalling about progress in the investigation.

In a July interview, Foreign Minister Kabudi claimed that Gwanda was one of many people who had “disappeared and died” in the Rufiji region. Although Kabudi later saidhis comments were taken out of context and he did not know Gwanda’s fate, his comments are deeply troubling and underscore the urgent need to investigate what has happened to this journalist.

These cases strike fear in the local media community and have the potential to exacerbate a culture of self-censorship, as journalists retreat from critical reporting for fear of facing a similar fate. They are also emblematic of the rapid deterioration of press freedom in Tanzania, which has included the suspension of media outlets on specious allegations, restrictive regulation, and legal harassment of journalists, as CPJ has documented.

The public commitments that Tanzania has made to press freedom will remain empty words without urgent action. The goals your government has set for itself, including rooting out corruption, cannot be fulfilled without a press that is able to operate independently, safely, and without fear of retaliation. We therefore urge your government to immediately free Kabendera and drop all charges against him, and ensure that Gwanda’s case is investigated thoroughly and the findings made public.

We would welcome an opportunity to meet representatives of your government to discuss these concerns.

Sincerely,

Joel Simon
Executive Director

CC: Foreign Minister Prof Palamagamba Kabudi
Information Minister Dr Harrison Mwakyembe
Chief Secretary in the Presidency Ambassador John William Kijazi
United Nations Permanent Representative Ambassador Modest Mero
Nonsense.
 
August 13, 2019
New York USA

Kamati ya Kimataifa Kutetea Wanahabari Ulimwengu CPJ kwa ajili ya Kulinda huru wa habari yenye makao yake makuu jijini New York Marekani imeandika barua ya wazi kwa Mh. Rais Dkt. John Pombe Joseph Magufuli.

Barua hiyo imeeleza ni mwezi mmoja uliopita tu jijini London mbele ya Jumuiya ya Kimataifa toka Waziri wa Masuala ya Kigeni Tanzania Prof. Palamagamba Kabudi kutoa tamko kwa ulimwengu kuwa serikali ya Tanzania itahakikisha uhuru wa habari kuenziwa Tanzania...lakini hali halisi inayoendelea Tanzania ni kinyume na ahadi iliyotolewa na Waziri huyo mwandamizi ktk serikali ya Tanzania.


Barua yenye kutoka CPJ:

President John Magufuli
1 Barack Obama Drive
11400, Kivukoni, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Sent via email

Dear President Magufuli,

I write to you from the Committee to Protect Journalists, an organization that advocates for press freedom worldwide, to urge your government to drop charges against freelance journalist Erick Kabendera and provide a public accounting of the fate of missing journalist Azory Gwanda.

Just last month at the Defend Media Freedom Conference in London, Foreign Minister Palamagamba Kabudi affirmedthat your government wants to “facilitate investigative journalism” and “ensure that journalists are protected against any actions, persecution or impunity.” Allowing Kabendera to return to his work, and taking Gwanda’s disappearance seriously, would be important step toward fulfilling these pledges.

Kabendera was taken forcefully from his home on July 29, 2019, and denied accessto a lawyer for more than 24 hours. Police initially claimed they were investigating Kabendera’s citizenship. However, days after his arrest prosecutors switched tracksand charged him with economic crimes, for which he cannot qualify for bail. He was moved between police stations several times during his interrogation. The manner of his arrest and detention suggests retaliation that seeks to silence his critical reporting, including on divisions within the ruling party.

Gwanda also worked as a freelance journalist, based in the Coast Region. He went missing on November 21, 2017, in the company of unidentified men believed to be security personnel. Prior to that, Gwanda chronicled mysterious killings and abductions, including of ruling party officials and police officers. Despite calls for an investigation from his family, Tanzanian media and civil society, and United Nations experts, there has been no credible accounting for his fate. Instead, officials have sent mixed signals about their knowledge of his whereabouts while stonewalling about progress in the investigation.

In a July interview, Foreign Minister Kabudi claimed that Gwanda was one of many people who had “disappeared and died” in the Rufiji region. Although Kabudi later saidhis comments were taken out of context and he did not know Gwanda’s fate, his comments are deeply troubling and underscore the urgent need to investigate what has happened to this journalist.

These cases strike fear in the local media community and have the potential to exacerbate a culture of self-censorship, as journalists retreat from critical reporting for fear of facing a similar fate. They are also emblematic of the rapid deterioration of press freedom in Tanzania, which has included the suspension of media outletson specious allegations, restrictive regulation, and legal harassment of journalists, as CPJ has documented.

The public commitments that Tanzania has made to press freedom will remain empty words without urgent action. The goals your government has set for itself, including rooting out corruption, cannot be fulfilled without a press that is able to operate independently, safely, and without fear of retaliation. We therefore urge your government to immediately free Kabendera and drop all charges against him, and ensure that Gwanda’s case is investigated thoroughly and the findings made public.

We would welcome an opportunity to meet representatives of your government to discuss these concerns.


Sincerely,

Joel Simon
Executive Director

CC: Foreign Minister Prof Palamagamba Kabudi
Information Minister Dr Harrison Mwakyembe
Chief Secretary in the Presidency Ambassador John William Kijazi
United Nations Permanent Representative Ambassador Modest Mero
Source: http://cpj.org /2019/8 /CPJ- calls-on-Tanzanias-Magufuli-to-drop-Kabendera-charges

Hapo sasa ndio tunaanza kuelewa Kabendera ni agent wa mabeberu, naungana na mahakama isitishwe na hao wajinga hadi kieleweke na hakuna kumhusisha Rais wetu na hayo mambo kwani hilo suala lipo mahakamani yeye hana maamuzi nalo.
 
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