Tanzania suspends Mwananchi Communications for 30 days

Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) has suspended online publication for Mwananchi Communications Limited (MCL) over what it has termed as publishing of 'prohibited content.’

 TCRA suspended the online content of MCL for a period of 30 days.

This means that The Citizen, Mwananchi Digital, Mwananchi and Mwanaspoti will be unavailable online for 30 days. 

TCRA is a government body whose role entails issuance and renewal of licences, enforcement of licence conditions and establishing standards for regulated goods and services.

“On October 1, 2024, Mwanachi Communications Limited published audio-visual content in social media platforms, content that is prohibited pursuant to Regulation 16. Further, the published content threatens and is likely to affect and harm national unity and social peace of the United Republic,” TCRA Director General Jabiri Bakari said.

MCL issued public communication on all its websites and social media platforms guaranteeing the public its commitment to addressing the matter with the government regulator.

 “We regret to inform our esteemed audiences that we shall be ceasing publication across all our online media platforms with immediate effect due to TCRA suspending all our online media services licences for 30 days, citing publication of prohibited content that violates the electronics postal communications (online content) regulations, 2020,” the statement read.

 MCL has previously had its licence suspended by the TCRA for six months in 2020 after The Citizen posted a leaked video of former President John Magufuli in a crowded fish market during the Covid-19 pandemic.