intolerance towards rebellious voices, coupled with restrictive laws, resulted in diminished democratic freedoms and heightened selfcensorship in both the media and civil society. A pervasive culture of silence emerged. Additionally, the Act prohibited the publication of Cabinet issues, regardless of the legitimacy of the obtained information. Faced with this growing media suppression, activists collectively filed a lawsuit at the East African Court of Justice, leading to a ruling in favour of the applicants and directives for Tanzania to ensure compliance with treaty obligations. The 2016 Media Services Act imposed stringent regulations and high registration/accreditation costs on media outlets and journalists. Granting arbitrary powers to the Information minister to penalise media entities and journalists, the Act allowed direct government intervention in private media content, particularly on issues deemed to be of national importance. Amidst scrutiny following President Magufuli’s death in March 2021, President Hassan assumed power, bringing a glimmer of hope. Hon Nape Nauye, Tanzania’s Information, Communication, and Information Technology minister STATE OF PRESS FREEDOM IN SOUTHERN AFRICA 2023 78