The suspension was announced by the Minister for Information Culture and Sports Development, George Mkuchika, who said that the newspaper had in its October 8, 2008 issue run a story purporting that there was a plot to “push” President Jakaya Kikwete out of power so that he does not win a second term in the 2010 elections.

He said that the story breaches the Newspaper Act of 1976 which prohibits publication of seditious material and that “it was intended to cause unrest in the President’s family, to create hatred between President Kikwete and other party leaders at the national and regional level.”

The article

The story published on Wednesday Oct 8, this year had alleged that a group comprising of former government officers who were linked to grand corruption were hatching a plot to ensure that President Jakaya Kikwete does not get a second term in office come 2010 elections. They already refer to him as the One–term President (OP).

The alleged plotters, some of whom are close friends and former cabinet ministers are already implementing a plan to infiltrate the ruling party’s National Executive Committee and the Central Committee with their own people so as to accomplish their objective. The President’s son, Ridhwan, has also been mentioned by the newspaper as member of the group.

The tabloid named some of the plotters as former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa and the President’s close friend and former CCM treasurer Rostam Aziz. The list also includes former cabinet ministers Andrew Chenge and Nazir Karamagi.

Laurance Masha, the Minster for Home Affairs, Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi, Deputy Minister for Defence and National Service and Adam Malima, Deputy Minister for Energy and Minerals have also been named by the newspaper as members of the group. They are still serving in their positions.

The President’s son, Ridhwani, has also been named by the tabloid as being used to further goals of the group, allegedly without his knowledge. The newspaper further alleged that the group has recently held several meetings as part of the process to accomplish their objective, citing Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Mwanza and Arusha as places where the meetings were held.

Following the publication of the story, the Registrar of Newspapers had demanded explanation from MwanaHALISI Editor, Saed Kubenea, to explain why he had published the article which was clearly against professional ethics. However the Editor had said there was nothing wrong with the story and it did not contravene the ethics of journalism.

The Editors Forum, the media professional body, had met to urge the government to exercise restraint and investigate whether the story was a mere fabrication as it had claimed or there were some elements of truth in it. The plea by the Forum seems to have fallen on deaf ears.

Mkuchika said that the contents of the story and the unrepentant behaviour of the Editor of Mwanahalisi have forced the government to suspend publication of the newspaper for three months, a directive which was given through Government Order Number 208A.

This is not the first time that Mwanahalisi has ruffled the government’s feathers. Last year the newspaper published a story implicating the then Prime Minister Edward Lowassa in a dubious deal with a foreign company that was to supply electricity to the country. In another issue, the newspaper urged the public to vote out the government because it had failed to deliver on its promise to raise the quality of life among Tanzanians.