Tanzanian journalist Grabs Press Freedom Award amid media crackdown

Four journalists have been honoured by the committee to protect journalists, CPJ including Tanzania’s Maxence Melo.
Maxence Melo from Tanzania has won the 2019 International Press Freedom Award.

Melo who has faced online harassments and cybercrimes charges won alongside Patrícia Campos Mello from Brazil, Naha Dixit from India, and Lucía Pineda Ubau of Nicaraguan.

While announcing winners of this year’s Press Freedom Award, CPJ described the situation in Tanzania and other parts of Sub Saharan Africa, as drastically deteriorating.

“freelancer Azory Gwanda, has been missing since November 2017. Several of our sources told us he was last seen in the company for four men believed to be security agents,” CPJ said.

“Just last week the Tanzanian Minister of Foreign Affairs told the BBC that Azory was dead. He later walked back these comments. CPJ has repeatedly called for the government to publicly account for Azory’s whereabouts.”

The committee to protect journalists condemned constant crackdown on Tanzanian journalists by Government.
“The constant legal intimidation and attacks against Maxence and his outlet showcase just how far things have fallen in Tanzania in the area of press freedom and free expression,” CPJ said.