This archive report was first published on 1 November 2019.
On November 1, 2019, President John Magufuli celebrated his 60th birthday, but a joke by comedian Idris Sultan turned into a nightmare for the latter.
Idris Sultan, a Big Brother Africa winner, shared two photos on social media, one showing President Magufuli's head on his body, and the other with his face on the President's body.
According to his lawyer, Eliya Rioba, Sultan was being held under the Cybercrimes Act, which prohibits the impersonation of another person.
"We swapped roles for a day so that he could enjoy his birthday in peace," Sultan wrote in Swahili.
However, the Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner, Paul Makonda, took to Instagram, telling Sultan to report to any police station in the city for further instructions, adding that he "doesn't know the boundaries of his work".
Rights activists have criticized the law, saying it infringes on freedom of expression, and if convicted, Sultan could face up to seven years in prison.
