The recent gruesome murder of journalist, Daud Mwangosi, by the police, and the failure of the President to speak out against this incident and many others, indicate that there is a concerted effort by the government of Tanzania to suppress democracy, civil rights and the growing Movement for Change (M4C) in the country.

The horrific killing of Mr. Mwangosi, a journalist with Channel 10, and the Chairman of the Iringa Press Club, took place against the backdrop of escalating clashes between the Tanzanian police and supporters of the Opposition CHADEMA Party and the Movement for Change (M4C). Although suppression of news and intimidation against journalists has been on the rise since the banning of Mwanahalisi newspaper in July, this event marks the first time a correspondent has been killed while covering a live news event. 

Tanzanians are not accustomed to this type of violence. Human rights activists in Tanzania are now calling for the Inspector General of Police and Iringa Regional Police Commisioner to step down, and for the government to take immediate legal action against those involved in this atrocity. 

The international community stands with the Tanzanian people in their struggle to maintain their freedom of the press and exercise their rights to assemble peacefully without threat of police harassment or intimidation.

More information and background can be found at the links below:

http://www.afrika.no/Detailed/22234.html​  

http://cpj.org/2012/07/tanzanian-authorities-ban-weekly-indefinitely.php​ 

http://blog.daraja.org/2012/09/key-sources-on-killing-of-daud-mwangosi.html​

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSibaWJS55s