Amnesty International says Kabendera’s plea was an act of 'desperation'
One article in 2019 published by thenewspaper reported a rift in President John Magufuli’s government with the headline “No end in sight as Tanzania’s ruling party CCM goes for ‘dissenters’.” After his arrest the US and Britain called the affair “irregular” and in violation of Tanzania’s criminal procedures law.
Rights groups saw the case as part of a pattern of tighter control on the media since the 2015 election of Magufuli.“While it is welcome news that Kabendera is out of prison ... it is outrageous that he had to pay such a hefty fine to gain his freedom after having been unjustly jailed for exercising his right to freedom of expression.”
Magufuli’s administration has shut down and fined some critical outlets, but denies muzzling the media. Several hours after the ruling, the journalist’s lawyer Jebra Kambole said he had paid the 100-million shilling fine for one of the charges and would pay the other within six months.Held at the Segerea maximum security prison on the outskirts of the capital, Dar es Salaam, the journalist had appeared in court more than ten times, sometimes appearing frail.
In September, Magufuli said that people held on charges of tax evasion, money laundering and other financial crimes should be freed if they confess and returned the cash.
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