Man in court for defaming President Magufuli

FAUSTINE KAPAMA

A DAR ES SALAAM Resident, Leonard Mulokozi, appeared before the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court charged with abusing President John Magufuli through social media.

Mulokozi is alleged to have published defamatory information and transmission of offensive communication against the head of state through Whats App.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges and he is out on bail after meeting the bail conditions. Principal Resident Magistrate, Magreth Bankika, who is hearing the matter, ordered the accused person to secure one surety who was to sign a bond of five million.

The case was adjourned to July 18, for mention, as investigations into the matter, according to the prosecution, have not been completed. The prosecution, led by State Attorney Wankyo Simon alleged that the accused person committed the offence on June 2, this year, at Tanzanite Tower Sam Nujoma Road within Dar es Salaam.

It is alleged that on the material day, the accused person, knowingly published defamatory information in a computer system, namely Cellular phone through Whats App with intent to defame, insult or abuse his Excellency, President Magufuli.

The prosecution alleged that the accused person published information that reads “Hivi huyu Pombe ni kwamba hana washauri? Hashauriki? Au ni zuzu? Bwege sana huyu jamaa, he doesn’t consider the law in place before opening his mouth au na yeye anaumwa ugonjwa wa Mnyika.”

In another count, it is alleged that on the same date and place, the accused person, by means of application service in Whats App knowingly created a transmission of a comment which is offensive in character with intent to abuse the president.

This is a second case to be instituted before the same court involving President Magufuli. The first case involved a bus conductor, Hamimu Seif (42), who is charged with threatening to kill President John Pombe Magufuli through words.

In the first case in Tanzania’s history since independence for a person to be arraigned in connection of giving threats to a seating president with intent to kill him, Seif is alleged to have said, “Kwa haya mambo anayoyafanya Rais Magufuli nipo tayari kujilipua kwa kujitoa muhanga ili kumuangamiza.