I n the last two editions of So This Is Democracy?, the Media Institute of Southern Africa’s Tanzania Chapter (MISA Tanzania) mapped a decline in media freedom in Tanzania. We are saddened to report the trend continued in 2014. A shocking display of police brutality against journalists in September 2014 invoked memories of previous attacks against journalists in Tanzania, including the killing of television journalist Daudi Mwangosi in 2012, the 2013 killing of radio Kwizera reporter Issa Ngumba and the brutal attack against Tanzania Editors Forum Chairman Absalom Kibanda in 2013, which left him half-blind. The year was not without hope, however. Tanzania is in the process of revising its constitution and the drafting committee has accepted the recommendation of media and civil society stakeholders to include two draft bills, which have the power to positively affect the state of media freedom in the country. JOURNALIST SAFETY A downward spiral of police brutality against journalists On 17 September 2014, Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania Dr Gharib Mohammed Bilal stood before an audience of media houses, law, defense and security organs gathered for a consultative meeting in Dar es Salaam. The Vice President delivered the keynote speech, throughout which he stressed the need for the police force and other security organs to work out their differences with the media and stop treating journalists as enemies. Unfortunately, the police were the only major law enforcers not represented at the meeting, which was aimed at improving the relationship between media practitioners and security organs. As if in mocking response to the plea, the very next day police attacked journalists attempting to cover a story involving the Chairman of Tanzania’s main opposition party, who had been summoned to the police headquarters in Dar es Salaam. Joseph Isango, a journalist with the local private daily newspaper Tanzania Daima; Yusuf Badi, a photographer with state owned newspaper, The Daily News; and journalist Shamimu Ausi of the local weekly paper Hoja, all sustained serious injuries. Isango sustained a leg injury, Ms Ausi was hit on her face near the eye and John Badi said he would have lost his leg to a police dog that charged him, if not for his camera, which he used as a shield. This shocking display of police brutality towards the media was greeted with a wave of condemnation from human rights activists and media associations all over the country. In July, Police in Dar es Salaam summoned the Managing Editor of Swahili daily newspaper, NIPASHE, Jesse Kwayu and the Managing Director of Guardian Limited, Kiondo Mshana, for questioning over stories alleging corruption amongst local motorcycle patrol police. When he arrived at the police station, Kwayu produced a letter written and signed by Senior Superintendent of Police Mr Amani Makanyaga, ordering him and Mshana to report to the station for questioning. However, when the pair arrived at the central police station, the head of Criminal Investigation in Dar es Salaam Special Zone, JafariI brahimu, So This is Democracy? 2014 71