Student arrested for sharing pictures showing students queuing for water

Pics courtesy

 A university student has been arrested in Tanzania for posting images highlighting the plight of fellow students who are facing water shortage in one of the universities in the country.

Tungu Mgaya allegedly took pictures and posted them on twitter showing students at Dodoma University queuing for water.

Tungu Mgaya

He posted the picture and wrote, "Imefikia mahari tunaagirisha mpaka vipindi ,kisa tunasubili maji yanayoletwa Na gari kutoka mjini, hii ni aibu kubwa kwa serikali ya CCM ,miaka 56 bado tunahangaika Na tatzo la maji vyuoni ,je huko vijijin Hali ipo vipi?"
He further posted another image showing dirty water available at the university. "Udom tumegeuka sasa mifugo , haya maji ndiyo tunayotumia kwa sasa."

The police have been holding him for three days despite spirited efforts by fellow students and human rights bodies in the country calling for his release. The Tanzania police have not issued any statement regarding his arrest.

President Magufuli's government has been accused of repressing media freedom and overseeing a shrinking of the democratic space by reigning over opponents, the media and human rights advocates.

In the recent past journalists have been arrested and accused of publishing fake news about alleged police abuse of suspects in custody. The police are still holding investigative journalist Erick Kabendera for economic crimes. Human rights advocates have complained that since Magufuli came into power, media suppression has been at its highest leading to the closure of a number of newspapers and radio stations for "incitement".