This archive report was first published on 17 August 2020.
On August 17, 2020, the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) announced a new set of rules aimed at increasing its control over local radio and television broadcasts run by foreign media.
The new regulations expand Section 37 of the 2018 Electronic and Postal Communications Act (Epoca), requiring any broadcasting station seeking to air material from another station within or outside the country to secure a formal permit from TCRA.
According to a TCRA statement, "A foreign national is also not allowed to enter into a working or business-related relationship with a local broadcaster unless he or she is accompanied by a representative from either the government or TCRA."
TCRA director-general James Kilaba clarified that the main issue was with broadcast stations, not individual journalists.
While instructing all local stations to submit their applications for TCRA cross-border link-up permits by August 18, the agency allowed those already running regular programmes from foreign sources under clear partnership deals to continue doing so for now.
These new regulations come on the heels of Tanzania's introduction of new restrictions on online content targeting content service providers and users of applications such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Prohibited content includes information that threatens national security and public order, aims to harm the reputation of the country, promotes public demonstrations, or could harm the national currency and cause confusion about the economic condition in the country.
TCRA had earlier taken to task the privately-owned Radio Free Africa (RFA) station for airing a BBC interview with opposition presidential candidate Tundu Lissu, in which he claimed opposition leaders including himself were barred by the government from participating in the funeral rites of the late Tanzanian president Benjamin Mkapa, who died on July 24.
