State bans ‘Leo Tena,’ suspends ‘Kulikoni’
From : Leila Abdul

Daily News

State bans ‘Leo Tena,’ suspends ‘Kulikoni’

THE government has banned ‘Leo Tena’ and suspended ‘Kulikoni’
newspapers for publishing seditious and defamatory news articles. The
ban means ‘Leo Tena’ will no longer be published.

Briefing journalists this noon, the Minister for Information, Culture
and Sports, Mr George Mkuchika, said that ‘Leo Tena,’ a sensational
newspaper owned by Nabaki Africa of Dar es Salaam, published a front
page pornographic picture, depicting two women in a compromising
position.

“This is against the laws that govern newspapers in the country.
Newspapers are supposed to educate, inform and entertain the public,”
Mr Mkuchika stressed.

“Kulikoni’ newspaper has been suspended for 90 days starting next
Monday — January 11, 2010.

In ‘Kulikoni’ Newspaper of November 27th, 2009, issue number 812, it
published a story, purporting that soldiers of the Tanzania People’s
Defence Forces (TPDF) cheat in national examinations. ‘Kulikoni’
newspaper is owned by Media Solution of Dar es Salaam.

The story published alleged that the process of making and doing exams
in the army provides easy chances for officers who are not qualified.

The story further alleged that TPDF exams of 25th May, 2009 in Dar es
Salaam, Ruvuma, Tabora, Arusha, Mwanza and Zanzibar, were leaked out
and that Ruvuma and Tabora were the leading culprits.

The story, according to the minister, breaches the National Security
Act of 1970 and the Newspaper Act of 1976, “which prohibits
publication of seditious stories that might cause unrest within the
army.

“The country’s army holds respect across Africa, because it has been
tested in different circumstances, including fighting in a war against
the Idi Amini regime in Uganda. TPDF is also among peace keeping
forces in United Nations and African Union units,” Mr Mkuchika
explained.

Due to its respectable position, some countries in Africa have invited
the army for combat training, the minister said.

According to the minister, ‘Kulikoni’ editor refused to provide
evidence and instead asked TPDF to form a committee that would look
into the matter and the newspaper would publish the committee’s
report.

“The editor could not substantiate his claims in the story, after he
was formally asked by the registrar of newspapers,” noted Mr Mkuchika.
Both notifications have been published in the Government’s Notice
yesterday, the minister added.