State puts court injunction over online content regulations

Mtwara. A case disputing online content regulations that should have been effective from May 5, this year, has started being heard Thursday on May 10 at the High Court Mtwara Zone, but the state put a court conjunction.

The case no. 12 of 2018 started being heard at 10:33am by Southern Zone Judge-in-Charge Fauz Twaib, who, however, adjourned it for about one hour from 02:34pm to allow people to rest and get food while both sides, the plaintiff and the defence having their lawyers.

On May 4, this year, the High Court issued a temporary injunction order to block start of use of online content regulations the Legal Human rights Centre (LHRC) and its five partners opened a case against the Minister for Information.

The court injunction put by the state first alleges whether the plaintiffs have no interest in the case against the authority of the minister over the enactment of the online content regulations.

Second, the state alleges that one of the sections of affidavits of the plaintiffs is baseless as it gives a verdict before the court has done so.

Third, it alleges that there is another legal way under Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) that gives a chance of making discussions with the Authority before that the matter is sent to a court of law.

The case will be heard on May 28.