Govt bans Mwanahalisi for two years

What you need to know:

  • Information Services Director and the Chief Government Spokesperson, Dr Hassan Abbas, said on Tuesday September 19 that the ban, which extends to its online publications, starts today.

The government has banned Mwanahalisi newspaper for two years, for allegedly publishing seditious content and for not adhering to professional code of conduct.

Information Services Director and the Chief Government Spokesperson, Dr Hassan Abbas, said on Tuesday September 19 that the ban, which extends to its online publications, starts today.

Dr Abass said Mwanahalisi, in its Monday, September 18, 2017 publication carried a story with the headline, "Tumuombee nani, Magufuli au Tundu Lissu?" (literally for should we pray fo Magufuli or Tundu Lissu).

according to him in the article the writer insulted the President.

"On several occasions Mwanahalisi has been publishing stories that were unethical… we have tried to talk to them severally but they haven’t listened," he said.

He noted on January 30, this year the paper published a story with headline "Ufisadi ndani ya Ofisi ya JPM" (literally meaning Corruption within JPM office – JPM is popular acronym for John Pombe Magufuli) but the story was about Kibaha education organisation.

Dr Abass said the ban is in accordance with section 12 of the new Information Services Act.