Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has directed that all media in the country that had been closed, banned or denied licenses to operate by the late former president John Magufuli be permitted to reopen.
Late former President John Magufuli had shut down newspapers and websites, jailed journalists and warned that there are limits to their press freedom.
Tanzania has clarified that the lifting of the media ban announced by the country’s president only applies to online television because several Tanzanians misinterpreted the announcement.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan has asked the information ministry to ensure they abide by the law and they must not be seen to curtail media freedoms.
The decision was welcome by activists and advocates of press freedom who urged amendments of laws stifling press freedom.