By Daniel Itai.
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. (News of The South) – The abduction of Tito Magoti a prominent human rights activist by five unknown people on Friday morning has sent out shock waves with regards to media freedom in Tanzania.
Police denied having any information about Magoti’s whereabouts when the organization he works for, Legal and Human Rights Center (LHRC) first reported him missing on Friday.
However, the police later confirmed that Magoti had been arrested, along with three other unnamed people, on various allegations, according to Dar es Salaam police chief, Lazaro Mambosasa.
“Why kidnap him and not follow the known procedure of arresting an accused person? Why not allow him to inform his relatives of his arrest? Why contradictory statements from the police,” lamented publicity and public communications secretary, Ado Shaibu of the opposition party ACT-Wazalendo.
Police have refused to disclose where and on what charges they are holding the 26 year old lawyer.
“To clearing doubt that Tanzania does not respect human rights, we ask the police force to say which police station Mr. Magoti is being held and the crime that he has committed,” said Anna Henga LHRC’s executive director.
An online campaign has since been launched on social media platform Twitter, #FreeTitoMagoti and #BringBackTitoMagoti.
In 2017 Tanzania’s President, John Magufuli gave out a stern warning to the media, “I would like to tell media owners, be careful, watch it. If you think you have that kind of freedom, it is not to that extent.”
Comments
About Author
