IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
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ALERT UPDATE - TANZANIA (ZANZIBAR)

4 December 2003

"Dira" newspaper warned against online publishing

SOURCE: Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Windhoek

**Updates IFEX alert of 25 November 2003**

(MISA/IFEX) - The Zanzibar government has threatened to take legal action
against the editorial board of the banned weekly "Dira" if it attempts to
publish the newspaper on the Internet.

At a news conference on 3 December 2003, Zanzibar Information Services
Director Enzi Talib said that to continue publishing "Dira" in any form
would be contrary to the government's order, which banned the newspaper
throughout the United Republic of Tanzania.

"Once the ban is slapped on the paper, everything is banned, including
online publishing. 'Dira' cannot publish online without registering with the
Tanzania Communications Commission," Talib told MISA-Tanzania in a telephone
interview.

He said the newspaper was registered in Zanzibar and "the Isles form part of
the Union." The ban therefore also applies on the mainland.

Talib told MISA-Tanzania that the Constitutions of both the United Republic
of Tanzania and the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar do not allow for
absolute freedom within freedom of expression. He claimed that an
investigation has indicated that the newspaper was established to disrupt
the "peaceful political climate" on the Isles ahead of the 2005 elections.

"The government has banned the paper because of security reasons. There is
ample evidence to prove that," Talib said.

The government alleges that "Dira" has distorted the history of the Zanzibar
Revolution and "the Union", as well as creating classes of "Islanders" and
"Mainlanders". The "Dira" editorial board, however, accuses the government
of not being tolerant to views that criticise it.

The newspaper's production manager, Salim Said Salim, told MISA-Tanzania
that the "Dira" editorial board hopes to take the matter to court by 8
December.

BACKGROUND:
On 24 November, the Zanzibar government suspended "Dira", which is published
by the Zanzibar International Media Company (ZIMCO). The government alleged
that the newspaper had violated "professional ethics".

Salum Juma Othman, the minister of state in the Chief Minister's Office,
said that, under the suspension, the company was not allowed to publish,
circulate or republish any previous issues of the newspaper in any part of
the United Republic of Tanzania until further notice.

The minister said he was suspending the paper in exercise of the powers
conferred upon him under subsection (1) of Section 30 of the Zanzibar
Registration of Newsagents, Newspapers and Books Acts no. 5 of 1988.

On 28 November, however, the Zanzibar government banned "Dira" for allegedly
continuing to violate "professional ethics". On 28 November, Othman said
that the government had decided to ban the newspaper because it has
allegedly been fomenting hatred between the government and the public.

For further information, contact Zoe Titus or Kaitira Kandjii, Regional
Information Coordinator, MISA, Street Address: 21 Johann Albrecht Street,
Mailing Address; Private Bag 13386 Windhoek, Namibia, tel: +264 61 232 975,
fax: +264 61 248 016, e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected],
Internet: http://www.misa.org

The information contained in this alert update is the sole responsibility of
MISA. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit
MISA.
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