Minister sacked over television station altercation

Tanzanian President John Magufuli has sacked Information Minister Nape Nnauye for criticising an ally of the President who had stormed into a television station. Ten days ago, Dar es Salaam regional commissioner Paul Makonda stormed into the offices of the Clouds FM Media Group with six armed men to demand the airing of a muckraking video aimed at undermining a popular local pastor with whom Makonda has a dispute. A report on the News24 site notes that the sacking comes amid an uproar over the incident which is seen as yet another example of the restriction of basic freedoms since Magufuli came to power in October. A statement from the presidency did not give any reason for Magufuli’s firing, and merely announced that a new Minister had been appointed.