- Tanzanian Home Affairs Minister Innocent Bashungwa has urged authorities to crack down on citizens spreading foreign social media content criticising President Samia Suluhu
- Bashungwa emphasised that even if the critical content originates from a foreign country, Tanzanians who share it domestically bear responsibility and disrupt national peace
- The call for action comes amid heightened online tensions between Kenyans and Tanzanians following the detention and deportation of prominent Kenyan activists
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Faith Chandianya, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and Current Affairs in Kenya
The Tanzanian government, through the Home Affairs Minister Innocent Bashungwa, has expressed concern over citizens using social media content from foreign countries to criticise President Samia Suluhu.
Were Tanzanians warned against criticising Suluhu?
During a parliamentary session on Monday, May 26, Bashungwa called on the Tanzanian police and the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) to step up efforts to identify and take action against citizens who damage the president’s reputation.
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“It has come to our attention the way people use the internet in a bad way to destroy the reputation of the president. It was said straightforwardly that even if the content is from a foreign country, those who spread it within the country are Tanzanians,” Bashungwa said.
The minister added that the government cannont condone Tanzanian citizens collaborating ith citizens from foreign nations to disrupt the country’s peace.
He further argued that despite the president’s efforts to deliver positive results, it is unfortunate that a small group of individuals are being used to spread a negative message.
“It causes us Tanzanians to start playing blame games while there is so much that has been done in our country that shows that our president deserves her flowers,” he said.
He called on key authorities, including the Inspector General of Police and police commanders, to thoroughly assess the current situation.
Bashungwa emphasised the importance of identifying any underlying issues and urged that these challenges be formally presented to Parliament for further action and resolution.
Although the minister did not directly reference Kenyan content, his remarks come amid ongoing online tensions between Kenyans and Tanzanians following the detention and deportation of senior counsel Martha Karua and activists Boniface Mwagi and Agather Atuhaire.
Did Tanzanian MPs troll Kenyans in Parliament?
In a related development, Tanzania’s Parliament became a stage for sharp criticism during the same session as lawmakers mocked Kenya.
The tense debate occurred days after the deportation of Kenyan activists and political figures, including Martha Karua and former Chief Justice David Maraga.
Geita MP Joseph Musukuma led the attack, defending the deportations and accusing Kenyans of disrespecting Tanzanian leaders and interfering in the country’s internal affairs. He said Tanzanian lawmakers had a responsibility to safeguard national sovereignty and would not stay silent in the face of attacks on their president.
Musukuma dismissed Kenya as a nation from which Tanzania had nothing to learn, mocking Kenyans for prioritizing English language skills over development. He also called on security agencies to remain vigilant and prevent what he called dangerous activism from crossing into Tanzania.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
