Varsity lecturer arrested for insulting Magufuli online

Iringa. A lecturer with Mkwawa University College of Education (MUCE) (name withheld) has been arrested by the police for allegedly insulting President John Magufuli through social media.

Briefing reporters Iringa regional Police commander Julius Mjengi said police arrested the 48-year-old man, who is a senior lecturer at MUCE for insulting the President through WhatsApp.

According to Mr Mjengi, the accused was arrested on Tuesday by police in Rukwa and was transported back to the region on the same day.

Mr Mjengi added that the accused committed the offence on September 15, when he posted abusive message towards the President in one of the WhatsApp groups.

However, the RPC neither revealed the content nor the name of the group in which the suspect sent the message.

“I can’t reveal the content of the message because investigations are still ongoing,” Mr Mjengi told the reporters.

The RPC furthered that the suspect will be sent to court after the completion of police investigations.

In another development, Mr Mjengi said three people died after their car veered off the road and overturned.

He named those who died in the accident as Hassan Mbuyu, 35, William Simon, 30, both residents of Dar es Salaam and Mariana Mayemba, 25, a resident of Makambako.

Two other people were injured in the accident, according to the RPC.