By Hassan Wekesa - Editor
Tanzania, 23 November 2025 – Tanzania’s Government Spokesperson, Gerson Msigwa, has accused several international media organisations of publishing “biased and unverified reports aimed at damaging the country’s image in the wake of last month’s protests.”
Speaking on Sunday at a press conference held at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC), Mr Msigwa singled out CNN for what he described as reliance on unverified mobile-phone footage and a failure to seek the official government position.
He urged CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera, and Deutsche Welle to adhere to journalistic standards of fairness, accuracy, and balance.
“Publish facts that are verified,” Mr Msigwa said, adding that broadcasting disturbing images without context was unacceptable and could prejudice the ongoing independent Commission of Inquiry into the 29 October protests.
The Commission of Inquiry led by retired Chief Justice Mohamed Chande Othman, was officially sworn in on 20 November 2025, but main opposition party Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) term it a washing machine where the government damps its dirty linen for cleaning.
The spokesperson stressed that the government was not restricting foreign media but expected them to operate “within the tenets of journalism”.
He invited the outlets to contact official sources in order to present a balanced account.
Mr Msigwa praised local journalists for their “responsible coverage”, saying they had helped protect Tanzania’s reputation while maintaining professionalism.
He claimed that certain foreign reports were part of a deliberate “weaponisation of narrative” intended to deter tourists and investors and undermine national stability.
“They want Tanzania’s downfall so that our competitors can overtake us,” he warned, calling on citizens to unite behind development goals.
He attacked bloggers, whom he said, fan violence at the comfort of their homes enjoying soft drinks.
Acknowledging that protests had taken place in a limited number of towns, Mr Msigwa insisted that President Samia Suluhu Hassan had restored calm and that the country remained peaceful and open for business.
Msigwa has praised local media that they are doing a good job protecting the country’s image.
“Tanzanians want peace, they want a country that looks into their issues,” Msigwa said.
He urged Tanzanians to embrace responsible journalism, insisting on fairness, accuracy, and accountability.
“Verify your facts, avoid bias, check your sources and be wary of those unnamed sources. Who are those unnamed sources?” he posed.
He said journalists need to mainly focus on development journalism.
He said he has blessings of President Samia Suluhu Hassan together with Minister for Information, Culture, Arts, and Sports Prof Palamagamba Kabudi, to ensure journalists in Tanzania are empowered.
“We are not saying that we want to bribe scribes, but rather, we appreciate the work of local journalists in the midst of the recent protests.”
Asked to give the official tally of those who died in the election-related protests, Msigwa had no clear answer, but only said, “the commission of inquiry will find out the exact number.”
Turning to economic achievements, he highlighted the operational standard-gauge electric railway, new monorail projects in urban areas, and the expanding capacity of Dar es Salaam Port under its partnership with DP World.
He said daily cargo handling was projected to rise from 32 tonnes currently to 50 tonnes by 2029, while Uganda’s transit traffic through Tanzanian ports was expected to increase from 3% to 38%.
Construction of the new Bagamoyo Port is scheduled to begin in December 2025, work has already started at Kigoma, and the government aims to welcome eight million tourists annually by 2030.
Mr Msigwa concluded by reaffirming President Hassan’s commitment to dialogue and to addressing citizens’ concerns as part of the country’s continuing transformation.
He urged youth, especially Gen-Zs to avoid temptation of returning to the streets when Tanzania will be celebrating Independence Day on 9 December 2025.
Tanzania went to the elections under tense mood as Hassan’s two main opponents were barred from contesting.
CHADEMA’s Tundu Lissu is incarcerated since April 2025 and faces treason charges while Luhaga Mpina of ACT-Wazalendo was disqualified following what the electoral commission and the Attorney General claimed was a political party membership technicality.
Hassan’s victory of 97.66% of the vote, announced by Tanzania’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is the highest margin in the country's history.
