This archive report was first published on 23 September 2019.
On September 22, 2019, Tanzania's President John Magufuli made a recommendation that people held on charges of tax evasion, money laundering, and other financial crimes should be freed if they confess and return the cash.
Magufuli made the statement during a ceremony swearing in new government officials at State House in Dar es Salaam. He emphasized that it was only a recommendation and not a directive.
According to Magufuli, those who are ready to apologize and confess their wrongdoings should sit down with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and work out a payment plan for the taxes they have evaded or the money that they have laundered, and then they can be released from detention.
Magufuli's move is aimed at easing crowding in prisons and raising money for government spending. However, the Committee to Protect Journalists and other rights groups have expressed concerns about the detention of journalist Erick Kabendera, who was detained in July on charges including failure to pay tax and money laundering. Kabendera denies the charges.
At least three Tanzanian executives with Acacia Mining were charged last year with money laundering and other crimes, and detained. They have denied any wrongdoing.
