Tanzania jails opposition MP for insulting president

By Kizito Makoye

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania

A Tanzanian opposition deputy was put behind bars Monday to serve his five-month prison sentence for insulting the country's president.

Opposition Chadema party lawmaker Joseph Mbilinyi -- popularly known as Sugu -- was convicted by a magistrate's court alongside Emmanuel Masonga, the party’s secretary for the Southern Highlands zone, for using "hate speech" against President John Magufuli during a school visit last December.

Delivering the verdict, Michael Mteite, a senior resident magistrate at Mbeya Resident Magistrate Court, said the court proved "beyond reasonable doubt" that the two uttered insulting words against Magufuli.

President Magufuli, who has garnered the praise of Western countries for his anti-corruption drive, is being accused by his opponents of becoming increasingly authoritarian, undermining democracy by curbing political activities and restricting free speech.