Dar es Salaam – Maxence Melo, the founder of Tanzania’s prominent online forum JamiiForums, has issued a stark warning to regulators, stating that arbitrary punitive measures threaten to stifle homegrown innovation and could ultimately force some companies to relocate outside the country.
The warning comes nearly two weeks after the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) imposed a 90-day ban on the platform. TCRA cited violations of the 2020 Online Content Guidelines (and its 2022 and 2025 amendments) for publishing content it claimed “misleads the public, insults, and defames the government and President” Samia Suluhu Hassan.
In an exclusive interview with The Chanzo on September 15, Melo framed the ban as a critical blow to Tanzania’s digital ecosystem.
“We are instilling fear in Tanzanian youth and robbing them of the courage to build something like this themselves,” Melo stated. “We should be nurturing local talent to create platforms that can grow and compete globally.
“Instead, we are essentially killing local content and inviting international platforms to dominate our digital space. This is not just a bad look for our country—it actively discourages the next generation of innovators.”
Melo criticised TCRA’s approach as disproportionate: “If there is specific content to be removed, there are clear procedures to follow. You don’t shut down the entire platform. It’s like locking down an entire shopping mall because you have an issue with one store. This is an injustice that should not be tolerated.”
He expressed deep concern about the potential long-term consequences, hinting at a future where Tanzanian companies are driven abroad.
“I would hate to be forced one day to move our headquarters to a neighbouring country,” he noted. “What we need is dialogue. We must learn to agree to disagree; it’s impossible for everyone to speak with one voice.”
The content in question
The TCRA’s statement did not specify the exact content that triggered the ban. However, Melo identified two contentious posts.
The first one concerned the allegations by former Tanzanian ambassador to Cuba, Humphrey Polepole, against businessman and CCM cadre Rostam Aziz regarding the sale of a coal mine. Aziz has publicly and vehemently denied these claims.
The second content was a post discussing photos of Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo with President Samia Suluhu Hassan, which he shared on his own social media and which sparked public debate.
TCRA stated this content “contradicts Tanzanian culture, customs, and traditions,” harming national unity and the country’s image.
Melo countered this, noting that JamiiForums was not the original publisher—the content was already public—and that the platform received no direct complaints from the alleged victims before the regulator intervened.
“Since laws and procedures exist, the authorities must also be fair and follow them,” Melo argued. “The process shouldn’t start with the regulator acting on its own accord. If a complainant has an issue with us, let them come forward. If we disagree, we can meet in court. No one is afraid of that. Impunity is not the answer.”
Impact on traffic, discourse
The ban has had an immediate and severe impact. Melo reported that daily traffic on JamiiForums has plummeted by approximately 50 per cent, from four million visits a day to under two million.
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He emphasised that this silencing of a major platform is particularly damaging as the nation approaches the General Election on October 29, 2025, limiting citizens’ constitutional right to information.
Melo also revealed the personal toll of running a independent platform, mentioning receiving numerous threats since May.
“It’s unfortunate that some prefer content to lean to a certain side,” he lamented, underscoring the difficult environment for independent media and open discourse in Tanzania. “When we refuse, that’s when the challenges begin. We live with these pressures daily.”
