Telecommunications in Tanzania

[4] The semiautonomous Zanzibari government controls the content of all public and private radio and television broadcasts in its islands.

Even in the case of state television broadcast from the mainland, there was a delay in the feed, allowing Zanzibari censors to intervene.

The SEACOM and the Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System submarine fiber cable projects were implemented in July 2009 and July 2010, respectively, and brought higher speed Internet connectivity to Tanzania with lower latency and lower cost.

A permit is required for reporting on police or prison activities, and journalists need special permission to attend meetings in the Zanzibar House of Representatives.

Anyone publishing information accusing a Zanzibari representative of involvement in illegal activities is liable to a fine of not less than TSh 250,000/= (US$158), three years' imprisonment, or both.