Tanzania

Tanzania is placed on 93rd position out of 180 in the 2018 World Press Freedom Index (WPFI) report compiled by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Compared to 2017, the country’s rank went down by 10.

RSF is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) based in France. Each year, WPFI is published to measure the level of freedom available to media in 180 countries. The goal of the organization is to make more people aware of all violations against journalists and the increasing hostility towards them.

The 2018 WPFI report points out the implementation of laws against the propagation of information and the incidents of murdered journalists to be part of the reasons for this low rank. Another factor which plays a major role is the suspension of broadcasting of television programs and radio programming.

RSF highlights: “The founder of JamiiForums, a popular website for whistleblowers, is being prosecuted for refusing to identify anonymous contributors to the site who have exposed cases of alleged corruption involving companies close to the government.”

Freedom House is another NGO that is committed to expand freedom and democracy worldwide. Annually, it publishes Freedom in the World report, which indicates the degree of civil liberties and political rights in different nations around the globe.

According to organization, Tanzania is considered as a partly free country. Its aggregate freedom score is 45 out of 100.

Freedom in the World 2019 report reveals that during President Magufuli’s ruling period “the government has cracked down with growing severity on its critics in the political opposition, the press, and civil society”.

According to this report, Tanzania has enacted media laws. In 2018, severe measures on media extended their influence, affecting news sources and social networks. For example, authorities have issued Online Content Regulations that lay bloggers or owners of online platforms under the obligation to pay $900 per year in registration fees.

“In March 2017, President Magufuli openly defended a governor who had stormed into a privately-owned radio station accompanied by policemen and forced it to broadcast a recording incriminating one of his opponents,” RSF also mentions.

There have been attacks on journalists as well, creating additional fear among people for independent media.

“Freelance journalist Azory Gwanda, who was investigating extrajudicial killings, has been missing since November 2017,” Freedom in the World 2019 report reveals.

“In April, reporter Finnigan wa Simbeye of the Guardian was beaten unconscious and found in a ditch,” the report adds.

In 2019, RSF informs that there are no journalists or media assistants killed.

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Dessislava Lozanova is double majoring in Business Administration and Journalism and Mass Communication at AUBG. One of her favorite quotes is “It’s not about what the world has to offer you, but what you have to offer the world”.