Tanzania 
Civil society protests Tanzanian persecution of editor

afrol News, 22 February - Numerous Tanzanian organisations have joined in the campaign against government's move to strip veteran journalist and publisher, Jenerali Ulimwengu, of his citizenship. The government's move had "confirmed fears that the whole charade had been organised to get at Ulimwengu because of his journalistic activities."

According to the Tanzanian chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa, MISA Tanzania, the government of Tanzania last week turned down an application for naturalisation by Jenerali Ulimwengu, a veteran journalist and the Chairman of Habari Corporation.

Ulimwengu, 53, is a publisher of highly regarded and fiercely independent newspapers 'Rai', 'Mtanzania' and 'The African', which have often run foul of the government by writing revelatory stories and biting commentaries about corruption in high places.

In 2001, in a move that shocked many, the Tanzania government announced it had stripped Ulimwengu of his citizenship, alongside three other people because, it was said that they could not prove their parents' citizenship. They were all advised to apply for naturalisation to take care of "technical problems". On 13February, it was revealed that the Minister of Home Affairs had granted all except Ulimwengu.

According to MISA-Tanzania, "this move has confirmed fears, expressed last year that the whole charade had been organised to get at Ulimwengu because of his journalistic activities." Ulimwengu's mostly critical newspaper articles and weekly television programme had "often irked authorities."

Reports in Dar es Salaam say two civic organisations, Rural Food Security Policy and Development Group (RFS) and Association of Rural Press Agencies (ARUPA), have joined in the campaign protesting the government's decision.

RFS said in the letter forwarded to President Benjamin Mkapa and copied to the press that it was shocked by the government move to reject Ulimwengu's application for citizenship. "We wish to request the government to reconsider its decision and restore Jenerali Ulimwengu's full citizenship", said RFS in a letter signed by its Co-ordinator Professor Marjorie Mbilinyi.

RFS said in the letter that the government move was contrary to the recent statement by President Mkapa that the media had an important role to play in enhancing the two-way flow of information and ideas and open expression of dissent. "The government's action of denying Jenerali Ulimwengu citizenship sends an entirely different message to the people that it is not safe to engage in open debate and public dissent", the letter stated. The letter was also copied to the Minister of Home Affairs, Mohamed Seif Khatib.

Theodos Mgomba from Dodoma reports that ARUPA has called upon the government to state openly in public the reasons for denying Ulimwengu his nationality status.

Announcing ARUPA's stand on 20 February, its president Daniel Msangya said there were no valid grounds for the government's move which had bragged of adherence to transparency and truth to refuse giving open statement to Ulimwengu's nationality.

The press NGO said the government should not continue to maintain secrecy over the reasons for denying Ulimwengu citizenship. Msangya called upon the government to reconsider its decision. He said the public was supposed to know the fate of Ulimwengu as many people did not know the exact reasons for denying him of his citizenship.

Meanwhile, the Secretary General of the opposition Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), Dr. Aman Walid Kaborou, has lashed at the government decision to strip Ulimwengu of citizenship. "This pathetic situation instils fear among the people that the government is now waging a war against intellectuals and visionary people. While the US and Canada are using the intelligence of person as a criterion for granting citizenship, Tanzania, an undeveloped country is doing exactly the opposite", said Kaborou.

He said he doubts very much whether even three people can be found within the ruling party, CCM who are able to compete with Ulimwengu in argumentation technique. "Why should CCM want to defend the borders put in place by colonialists whilst Africa is a single entity? The important thing is to protect the people who value the interests of the nation", he asked.

Dr Kaborou, who is also the MP for Kigoma Urban (CHADEMA), said this while speaking to newsmen at the party's offices in Kinondoni Dar es Salaam on 20 February. 

Sources: Based on MISA

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