Different studies conducted by the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Tanzania Chapter in partnership with the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) found widespread laxity among officials in handling and processing information requests, poor customer care services, lack of knowledge of the Access to Information Act and reluctance of government officials to share public information, among others. These access to information surveys, which used journalists as researchers, assessed the responsiveness of local government authorities (LGAs) and central government offices in Tanzania to citizens’ information requests. Although government enacted the Access to Information Act 2016, the minister responsible is yet to prepare regulations for effective operationalisation of the law. JOURNALIST SAFETY The year 2017 was a very trying one for journalist safety in Tanzania. According to Anna Pinoni, the wife of journalist Azory Gwanda, her husband was picked up by 4 people in a white Landcruiser on the morning of 21 November. He has not been seen since. The abduction of the Mwananchi Communication Limited Correspondent Azory Gwanda was the hallmark of press freedom violations in 2017. Whether Gwanda was abducted for work related or personal issues is unknown. No official report has been issued by the authorities on whether there are any investigations to find him or his abductors. In February 2017, two journalists in Arusha were arraigned at USA River Police Station. Bahati Chume, a freelancer based in Kilimanjaro and Dorine Alois 112 So This is Democracy? 2017 who is a reporter at Sunrise Radio in Arusha were arrested while following up a story in the Arumeru district for allegedly failing to introduce themselves to the authorities. District authorities denied their involvement in the ordering of the arrest. Different studies found widespread laxity among officials in handling and processing information requests, poor customer care services, lack of knowledge of the Access to Information Act and reluctance of government officials to share public information, among others. In March 2017, the Regional Commissioner for Dar es Salaam, Paul Makonda, accompanied by police officers, allegedly raided the Clouds Media Group (CMG) studios forcing staff on duty to