Tanzanian govt accumulates huge foreign criticism over suspending ‘The Citizen’

On Wednesday, Tanzanian government led by President John Magufuli suspended The Citizen newspaper for seven days as it cited the fall of the Tanzania shilling against the dollar on February 23.

Since the suspension, the government of Tanzania is confronting criticism from various parts of the world. “Is this sanction proportionate to the offence purportedly committed?” Embassy of Italy in Tanzania tweeted.

Patrick Kipangala, Tanzania’s registrar of newspapers has given an accusation to the newspaper organization for publishing the article “without abiding by the due procedure and financial standards set by the Bank of Tanzania”.

Last year, the Bank of Tanzania carried out a six-month investigation, which revealed rampant fraud in the forex market business, with several traders involved in money laundering.

Today I had to change my morning routine: usually I start the day with a fresh copy of the #Citizen. Unfortunately it has been banned in #Tanzania for a week. Is this sanction proportionate to the offence purportedly committed?

— Embassy of Italy TZ (@ItalyinTanzania) February 28, 2019