Tanzanian Awarded International Press Freedom Prize

Tanzanian co-founder and managing director of Jamii Forums Maxence Melo Mubyazi has been named among the winners of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) 2019 International Press Freedom Award. 

Melo is facing charges in relation to Tanzania’s Cybercrimes Act and has regularly been pulled before the courts. He was detained in 2016 and in 2017 appeared in court 81 times. His is unable to leave Dar es Salaam without permission while he fights to clear his name.

Jamii Forums was temporarily shut down in June 2018 following the introduction of new regulations in line with the Electronic and Postal Communications Act.

Other awardees include Brazil’s Patricia Campos Mello, India’s Neha Dixit, and Nicaragua’s Lucia Pineda Ubau and Miguel Mora.

Speaking on the announcement of the award CPJ executive director Joel Simon stated, "The winners of CPJ's 2019 International Press Freedom Awards represent the very best of journalism, people who have put their lives and liberty on the line to bring us the news. While we celebrate their courage, we lament that it is required."

“The sad reality is that around the world independent journalism is threatened by populist authoritarians who disdain and disparage the work of the independent press. This is true in the countries represented by our honorees and many others," he added.