Tshs 10 million (US$3,850), with a two-year jail term for a subsequent offence. Immediately after taking office, President Hassan allowed previously banned media outlets to resume operations, lifted bans on four newspapers, online TVs, and some blogs, and expressed a commitment to improving human rights and engaging with the media and civil society differently. Additionally, a new section, named section 38, was introduced to enhance citizens’ right to freedom of expression. Nauye, the Information, Communication, and Information Technology minister, detailed the amendments, noting that out of the 21 recommendations from stakeholders, eight remained unchanged, while others were reviewed. In response, local media support organisations began lobbying the government and training media practitioners to advocate for legal reforms. However, their efforts seemed often disjointed and uncoordinated, with various entities independently approaching the government with similar proposals. This includes the removal of criminal liability for media practitioners. Media players have agreed with the government that the licensing aspect of the law should be addressed during the drafting of regulations. Once this came to the attention of media organisations, they joined hands and prepared a proposal that the ministry was ready to start working on. The minister emphasised the importance of relying on the latest information regarding the amendments to the Media Services Act, that was endorsed by Parliament. In the early months of 2023, during the Miscellaneous Amendments parliamentary session, Attorney General Dr Eliezer proposed a significant modification to the Media Services Act (MSA) Cap 229. Efforts are ongoing to complete the proposed amendments, with stakeholders being urged to contribute to the sector’s liberation. Control and censorship of digital spaces, internet shutdowns This modification specifically involves removing the responsibility for determining the placement of government advertisements from the duties assigned to the director of Information Services. Nape Nnauye, Information, Communication, and Information Technology minister, expressed gratitude for the active involvement of various stakeholders in providing input for the revision of the Information Services Act. Despite notable advancements in recent years, Tanzania continues to grapple with the persistent challenge of the digital divide. A substantial discrepancy in Internet access and digital technology utilisation exists between urban and rural areas. He emphasised that this change gives the government flexibility in selecting media outlets for advertisements based on market dynamics. According to a 2023 report from the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), 67.8 percent of individuals in urban areas in Tanzania have access to the internet, while the figure drops significantly to 28.9 percent in rural areas. The presented bill suggested amendments to sections 51, 50, 53, 54, 55, 63, and 64, proposing reasonable penalties for journalists violating the law. Eliezer further clarified that the proposed changes sought to exempt individuals who own printing presses from penalties, as they typically lack the authority to determine the content printed. Beyond the urban-rural disparity, there is a pressing need to ensure the inclusivity and accessibility of digital training programmes for all Tanzanians, irrespective of gender, age, or socioeconomic status. Currently, section 50(1)(c) penalises those involved in printing, publishing, selling, offering for sale, distributing, or reproducing any seditious publication. It is imperative to recognise that as the digital economy expands, so does the prevalence of cybersecurity threats faced by both media players and individuals in Tanzania. The proposed amendment suggests reducing fines to between Tshs 2 million (US$770) and In 2022, the TCRA reported a surge of over 79 STATE OF PRESS FREEDOM IN SOUTHERN AFRICA 2023