The Director General of the ICT Commission, Dr. Nkundwe Mwasaga during the 2024 Tanzania Internet Governance Forum (TzIGF) stated that Tanzania has never experienced deliberate Internet shutdowns that only outages occur due to glitches.
The forum, held on September 5, 2024, at the COSTECH Building Dar es Salaam and organized by Tech & Media Convergence (TMC), focused on a multi-stakeholder approach to internet governance. The discussions emphasized transparency, accountability, and fostering an environment conducive to innovation and digital growth.
Dr. Mwasaga reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring digital access for its citizens, stating that shutdowns have never occurred except when technical problems occur that affect the entire infrastructure.
“Recent incidents where users experienced issues accessing certain platforms were due to technical problems from operators relying on services from South Africa. These were not deliberate restrictions,” Dr. Mwasaga said.
He referred specifically to challenges users encountered when trying to access X (formerly Twitter) remained, explaining that outages were sporadic and not uniform across mobile operators.
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“Some subscribers could access the platform while others couldn’t,” he said, “this suggests these were isolated technical issues rather than systemic shutdowns.”
Dr. Mwasaga did not provide further details regarding why some users faced difficulties accessing X, while other platforms and services remained accessible via the same Internet service providers.
Concerns Raised by Internet Governance Stakeholders
Despite Dr. Mwasaga’s reassurances, concerns surrounding digital human rights in Tanzania remain. The Internet Governance Tanzania Working Group (IGTWG), an independent body aimed at improving Internet governance, recently urged Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and mobile operators to ensure transparency and accountability when delivering services.
Their statement emphasized worries over unexplained service interruptions and the absence of prior public notice.
“These restrictions, imposed by ISPs and mobile operators, have occurred without any prior notification or clear justification to the public,” the IGTWG statement read, “This has raised serious concerns about the transparency and accountability of digital governance in Tanzania.”
This call for greater transparency was echoed by international digital rights organizations like Access Now, which advocates for the digital rights of vulnerable communities. Access Now stressed that citizens have a right to an open and accessible Internet and that any restrictions must be clearly communicated and justified.
Striking a Balance Between Digital Rights and Governance
Additionally, the Tanzania Internet Governance Forum 2024 discussion highlighted the complexities of balancing accessible Internet, emerging technologies, and governance. Although the government reassures that Internet shutdowns are not part of its strategy, memories of incidents during the 2020 general elections remain a reference point for future concerns.
Stakeholders’ concerns underscore a gap in trust and communication. As Tanzania undergoes its digital transformation, the challenge is to balance regulatory oversight with the protection of digital human rights. Building an Internet governance model that fosters transparency and accountability will be essential for empowering citizens and promoting sustainable innovation.
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As Dr. Mwasaga reminded stakeholders on the significance of the internet in building and innovation, he emphasized on collaboration between government, private sector and Civil Society Organisation in enhancing an inclusive governance model that promoted accessibility and protects rights to all citizens.
“The government is ready to support innovation,” he said. “Young people should seize the opportunities the Internet provides instead of complaining. Let’s focus on using the digital space creatively and positively.”
