This archive report was first published on 28 June 2021.
Tanzania Opposition leader Tundu Lissu has spoken out about the state of media freedom in his country under the late President John Pombe Magufuli. In an interview, Lissu described the media space in Tanzania as a 'prison' during Magufuli's rule.
According to Lissu, the media atmosphere in Tanzania has never been at par with its East African neighbours, particularly Kenya. He noted that even in the best years for media freedom in Tanzania, the country's media scene could not be compared to Kenya's.
Speaking on Spice FM on June 28, 2021, Lissu said that the introduction of a multiparty system in Tanzania improved the situation, but only to a certain degree. He added that some areas remained controlled by the state, and that Magufuli's administration took the country through a path of mayhem it had never taken in its entire history.
Lissu cited the disappearance of journalists, closure of media houses, heavy fining of television stations, and shutting down of radio stations as examples of the crackdown on free press and dissident voices under Magufuli's rule. He also mentioned the regulations issued by the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority in August 2020, which demanded the presence of a government custodian when a foreign journalist was covering a local story.
However, Lissu expressed hope that President Samia Suluhu is trying to right the wrongs made by the Magufuli administration. He noted that Suluhu has ordered the reopening of media houses that were previously banned or sanctioned by the former administration, and has cautioned the media to follow the law in its reportage.
