There are some leaders who has the need to control the media, to the levels of stupidity, some leaders cannot manage critics or even questions about their actions. That they continue to supress and silence the opposition. They get suspended the broadcasting licence, they get suspending from publishing their newspapers and even fellow politicians who comes with rhetorical questions can end behind bars. That is the truth of Tanzania under President Dr. John Pombe Magufuli.
He has now taken it further, he is now charging fees for people for signing up content online, if you’re a blogger, it will cost 930 United States dollars any given year to do it. They have to be registered and on file to be able to write online. That would have costed me and I have been doing this for years. Clearly, Magufuli doesn’t like free spirits, unless they are all praising his narrow mind.
If the blog even causes “annoyances”, meaning if it insults the presumed intelligence of Magufuli, then the blog page will be suspended and taken down. The blogger/writer will not allowed to be published. This is a way of the state to sanction and control all written word. Also all content online and seek the ones who can afford to think on their own!
That is high price for a service, that if you have the basic packages of blogs, it doesn’t cost, unless you are paying for address and other extra services on the blog itself. Therefore, this is to secure that the ones with lack of funds cannot write online. This is to know exactly who writes and operates within the state and make sure publishers follows government guidelines. Just like they forcefully does to other media.
The Tanzanian Government under Magufuli has been relentless and ruthless to the media. Therefore, this is just the next step; they have banned songs from famous pop-stars already. Therefore, this is just the next move, to alter the media and alter the freedom of oppression. Now, the state can also have oversight and total control of the blogs, just as if they do with radio, TV and Newspapers. This will likely make it harder for people to start writing and question the government. Since, it is a big hurdle to have 930 US Dollars to pay the government to do so.
The free mind, the thinking minds and the ones questioning authorities online, will now you have to be registered there and they have an oversight role over you. The state will decide and grant you the permission to blog, podcast, and whatnot online. The paternal state is there and they are not subtle about it.
If you would be wise, would be to use VPN and register in whatever republic, nation or dominion, where the state cannot control you, but then again. You have to remember to use that trick to not be caught with IP Address and whatnot. That is if you are a free thinker and defiant in the mode of an over-controlling state. Peace.
MinBane 