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

15 March 2004

Veteran journalist finally granted citizenship

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

**Updates IFEX alert of 15 February 2002**

(MISA/IFEX) - The Ministry of Home Affairs has officially granted journalist
Jenerali Twaha Ulimwengu citizenship by naturalisation.

According to a public notice issued by Director of Immigration Services
K.W.B. Kihomano and published in the 11 March 2004 edition of the "Daily
News", Ulimwengu and 32 other persons were granted citizenship under
Sections 9 (1) and 1 (11) of Tanzania's Citizenship Act No. 6, 1995.

BACKGROUND:
In 2001, in a move that shocked many, the government announced that
Ulimwengu, a prominent journalist and chairperson of Habari Corporation
Limited, and three other individuals had been stripped of their citizenship
for allegedly failing to prove their parents' citizenship.

The four individuals were all advised to apply for naturalisation to address
"technical problems." On 13 February 2002, it was revealed they had all been
granted naturalisation by the home affairs minister, except for Ulimwengu.

The move confirmed fears that the whole affair had been organised to punish
Ulimwengu for his journalistic activities. His critical newspaper articles
and weekly television programme often upset the authorities.

A journalist and lawyer by training, Ulimwengu is a former member of
parliament, a former Tanzanian representative to the Pan African Youth
Movement in Algiers, Algeria, and a former member of Tanzania's ruling party
national executive committee, which is the party's highest policy organ.

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 232975,
fax: +264 61 248016, e-mail: [email protected] [2] or [email protected] [3],
Internet: http://www.misa.org/ [4]

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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