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A Tanzanian journalist with a prestigious award for freedom of the press said Wednesday that he hoped this recognition would "lift the veil" on the fate of journalists in his country.
Maxence Melo, a blogger whose critical writings of President John Magufuli have defeated him, has been named one of the five laureates of the International Press Freedom Prize by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
The New York-based panel said that Melo, co-founder of the blog Jamii Forums in 2006, was a "champion of online freedom of expression" who had never flinched, even against the strict laws of the Tanzania on the Internet.
Melo has appeared in court more than 80 times, said CPJ, and is still being prosecuted for refusing to reveal his sources in an article criticizing the Tanzanian authorities.
His work focuses on corruption, tax evasion and human rights violations.
Melo said he hoped the prize would draw attention to the exceptional difficulties faced by journalists in Tanzania.
"This award lifts a veil of veil over what is happening in our country," said Melo, unable to leave the financial capital and the largest city of Tanzania, Dar es Salaam.
"Never before in our country has a government so violated the freedom of the press."
Tanzania lost 25 places in the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) press freedom index this year. The media watch group described Magufuli as a "predator of press freedom" who attacked journalists with impunity.
"This is obviously not good news that my country is making headlines because of its laws and practices that violate the freedoms of the press and expression," Melo said.
"With the announcement of this award, I believe that the international community will be more interested in what is happening in Tanzania, in the difficult environment in which the media and human rights defenders work. In Tanzania. "
Melo, a father of three, said he received death threats.
"It is obvious that I am afraid, for my personal safety, but also for the safety of my family," he said.
Under Magufuli, elected in 2015, rallies of opposition parties were banned, their leaders were arrested and prosecuted, newspapers closed and journalists and artists harbaded and threatened with death.
In 2015, RSF ranked 75th in the world for East Africa. By 2019 he had fallen to 118th place.
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