Key sedition case statement tendered

By Rosina John, The Citizen Correspondent 

Dar es Salaam. 

The defence counsel has finally been provided with the complainant’s statement in the sedition case facing the managing editor of Mwananchi Communications Limited (MCL), Mr Theophil Makunga, and two others.

State attorney Prosper Mwangamila produced the statement yesterday to the accused through their advocates, Messrs Frank Mwalongo and Nyaronyo Kicheere.In the statement, the complainant is named as Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) David Hizza from the office of the director of criminal investigations (DCI).

The case came up for hearing when the prosecution side called Assistant Commissioner of Police George Mwampashe and Raphael Okollo as witnesses.However, the hearing was adjourned to September 21  by resident magistrate Frank Moshi as presiding magistrate Warialwande Lema, who handles it, was absent.

Before adjournment, the defence counsel reminded the court about its demand to have the complainant’s statement. At an earlier session the prosecution told the court that it would hand over the statement yesterday. In June this year the court ordered the prosecution to provide the statement to the accused following a request by their advocates.

In the case, Mr Makunga along with the managing editor of Tanzania Daima, Mr Absalom Kibanda and a columnist for the tabloid, Mr Samson Mwigamba, are charged with printing and publishing a seditious article.

According to facts, the accused are charged with sedition contrary to section 72(1)(c) and 31(a) of the Newspaper Act Cap 229 of 2002.

It was alleged that on November 30 last year the trio, using their professional and work roles, published and printed a seditious publication through Tanzania Daima newspaper. 

Source: The Citizen (11/09/2012): http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/news/51-other-news/25610-key-sedition-case-statement-tendered