Hopes to secure freedom of embattled Tanzanian journalist Erick Kabendera diminishes

TANZANIA - Hopes to secure freedom of embattled Tanzanian journalist Erick Kabendera diminished substantially on Wednesday after his case was postponed for the record 10th time.

Arrested in July, the renowned investigative journalist has witnessed unjustified delayed proceedings of his case, a predicament reportedly engineered by the state.

When he was arrested, authorities first pressed controversial citizenship charges, which have since been dropped given his nationality is unquestionable.

Later, Kabendera would be charged with money laundering, tax evasion and organized crimes, offenses which are unbailable under Tanzanian law.

On Wednesday, Kabendera appeared in court limping, precipitating questions over his health. He's now set to spend the entire festive season in prison.

Amnesty International described his arrest as "an assault on press freedom" and diplomats expressed concern over the initial handling of the case.

Jebra Kambole, his attorney, has been struggling to have him released on bail but his efforts are yet to materialize. The government remains mum over Kabendera's woes.

"We are asking the court that the prosecution speed up the investigation as the case has been postponed many times," he told local media.

Shortly after Kabendera's arrest, the US and UK embassies in Tanzania said they were "concerned about the steady erosion of due process in Tanzania, as evidenced by the ever more frequent resort to lengthy pre-trial detentions and shifting charges by its justice system".

Amnesty International's East Africa director, Joan Nyanyuki, called his detention "an assault on press freedom and further underlines the rising repression of journalists and perceived government critics in Tanzania, where people have been killed, physically assaulted, threatened, harassed or abducted for expressing their views".

Kabendera, who has worked for various media houses among them Guardian, Times and several local tabloids, is known for his explosive investigative pieces.

Corruption, maladministration, fraud are some of the controversial topics he covers which allegedly makes the state uncomfortable with him.

Since taking over in 2015, President John Magufuli's human rights record has been questioned, despite his radical reforms' agenda.

Cases of detention without trial are synonymous with an attempted assassination of opposition leader Tundu Lissu also throwing the government off-balance.

Recently, Reporters without Borders released statistics reflecting on suppression and violation of journalists' rights and freedoms.

In 2019, at least 49 journalists were killed under controversial circumstances. About 389 detained while 57 were abducted. The deaths are lowest in six years.

GAROWE ONLINE