INFORMATION, Communication and Information Technology Minister Nape Nnauye has demanded immediate actions against an online TV blog for creating and publishing disinformation about Tanzania and China bilateral relations.
Tanzania Abroad TV got into trouble on Saturday after publishing a post detailing that Tanzania has received a waiver of its debt worth 31.4 billion on grounds it opens up for more Chinese investments and lower conditions to Chinese investors. The post published in Kiswahili also said another condition for the waiver was for Tanzania to pardon 102 Chinese inmates currently serving their sentences in various Tanzania prisons.
The post that has so far been removed was accompanied by a photo shared by President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s Directorate of Presidential Communications depicting the President in closed door talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Nnauye said in a twitter post “I have instructed the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) and other relevant authorities to take serious measures against the TV for disinformation.”
“This level of distortion is unacceptable. Its goal is to mislead and entice hate against the government,” the Minister tweeted.
Tanzania and China have enjoyed decades-long relations.
President Samia visited China for a three-day state visit meeting with President Xi in Beijing on Nov. 3. The two leaders along with their delegates signed 15 agreements being part of the 15 strategic agreements.
China is a major source of foreign direct investment (FDI) into Tanzania, accounting for 1,098 investment projects, worth 9.6 billion US dollars. The projects have created 131,718 jobs.
