Tanzania's Journalist Kabendera Freed After 7 Months Of Incarceration

Tanzania's investigative journalist Erick Kabendera was on February 24, 2020 set free by a court in Dar es Salaam, after 7 months of incarceration. That was reported by various media.

Mr Kabandera was arrested in July 2019 and charged for tax evasion and money laundering, and has since then been languishing in incarceration. The arrest and incarceration of the prominent journalist resulted in an outcry from human rights groups worldwide and even some governments, who said the charges were politically motivated and direct attack by the government of Tanzania on freedom of press.

According to the reports, Mr Kabendera was released by the court after pleading guilty of tax evasion and money laundering, and agreed to pay fines amounting a total of about $119 300, for the two offences.

Despite its reportedly good performance in delivering economic development, the current government of Tanzania has been lambasted by human rights groups locally and internationally, for violations of human rights that include, among others, suppression and harassment of the opposition, and violation of freedom of press and expression.

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