If the Chama Cha Mapundzi (CCM) and President Joseph Magufuli got done with his actions against the media. There might been slow days and also better broadcasting, as the state and the authorities are arresting journalists, revoking licenses and suspending media houses for days. If their reporting or their stories isn’t in the same vision as the President. That is just measure and reasoning for all the activity that has been done during the reign of Magufuli. His track-record on this matter, speaks for itself and the ones hurt it, are either in jail or at unknown locations, because government take them away and they haven’t been seen again.
So, the onslaught against unfavourable reporting, articles and statements on-air is steady from this regime. It exposure to the reality of people thinking for themselves and making up opinions is such a vast challenge. That the ones collecting data and making statistics, even needs the anointing spirits of the President to publish it. Nothing that is written or said, should hurt his pride and his achievements, even if it means trading-off bad deals to save his shallow mind.
In this regard, after rigging an election and not celebrating it. The Tanzanian government feels a bit hurt by the reporting on the subject of local government elections. They thought it should be celebrated and be grandest elections of them all. Even if the process to it, was flawed, open bazaar of unopposed candidates and a cluster-fuck of “multi-party” democracy. Which made the CCM become superior beyond any doubt. Because, they ran against none of serious challenge and if they were, than it was the ghosts of Christmas past. Therefore, the reporting on this matter, is now called fake-news, even if the CCM is faking it all on their own.
First the attack on the media owners and who they hire:
“Through a notice published in the daily Tanzanian government Newspaper by the Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority ( TCRA), the media owners who will fail up to acknowledge and heed to the act will be fined or have their licenses withdrawn as stipulated in the law. “Those who don’t heed to this warning will be fined or have their licenses revoked as stipulated in the law,” the notice from Tanzanian Communication Regulatory Authority read” (Howwebiz.ug – ‘Magufuli: No More Jobs For Djs And Comedians On Radio and TV in Tanzania’ 28.11.2019).
Then the attack post elections 2019:
““Some news outlets in the country have been approached, used and act as agents in spreading fake news, rumours and propaganda against our country from international organisations and representatives of foreign countries” reads one of the tweets. Mr Abbas accused journalists of neglecting the principles of their profession by failing to fact-check. “The government has made enough explanation, given enough warnings and enough pardons. Now we will take stern legal measures,” he added” (The East African – ‘Tanzania in fresh crackdown on freedom of the media’ 30.11.2019).
Surely, the CCM wants good press, but that under fear, that if the Media Houses, the broadcasting companies and the ones writing isn’t writing what they like; they will loose their licenses and their rights to broadcast. Certainly, they will stop the press, the publishers and the block their pages. They will have their content deleted and silence the ones who says the wrong thing.
No DJ or Comedian should joke on-air or on Twitter for that matter. No one should write anything that insults the CCM nor its President. Because his the grandest head of state, the magnificent human being who self impose himself everywhere. His so wise and has such a grandeur of a spirit, that he will excel straight to heaven. Just by him breathing and speaking, he will make wounds heal and make bank-accounts pregnant. That is just what the President and CCM does.
I’m just kidding about that, but if the CCM want positive headlines. Want a favourable press and get coverage, which it deems fit. Maybe they should act more righteous and not block the opposition. Maybe not arrest comedians and investigating journalists. Maybe if the CCM and the President doesn’t want foreign bad press. Maybe let the opposition be able to field candidates, hold rallies, press conferences and do party work without needing prior acceptance from state authorities. There should be measures and levels of registrations of political work and parties, but into these superficial levels, which has been created under Magufuli. Wonder if the CCM could have managed to run the country, if they had to answer to the same arrangements and protocol that the ACT Wazeledo and CHADEMA. I doubt that!
So, with this in mind. I stop it here, but lets be clear. Magufuli fear the written word, he fears the press and the ones reporting on him. Because, people are just supposed follow the script of him and his CCM. If you don’t, your malicious and devious to damage his calm. Peace.
MinBane 