Tanzania police 'arrest student over photo'

A student in Tanzania has been arrested after posting a picture on social media which shows other students queuing up for water, a local human rights organisation says.

Mugaya Tungu snapped the photo of his fellow students queuing up with colourful plastic buckets, and posted it online where it ended up being widely circulated. He was arrested shortly after that in his room, the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition said.

Mr Tungu has not been charged yet and the police have not said anything about the case, but it is believed he will be charged under Tanzania's Cybercrimes Act.

The case has sparked a reaction on social media by people shocked at what they consider to be the latest assault on human rights in the country:

#FreeTunguMgaya
Reports coming from Dodoma #Tanzania that student Tungu Mgaya is held by police for posting this photo of students queuing for water
This is of very high concern and Tungu should be released immediately - what is the offence?!
#FreeTunguMgaya #ChangeTanzania pic.twitter.com/iSake59CyT

— Maria Sarungi Tsehai (@MariaSTsehai) January 22, 2020

Which rule has the kid broken? Has he spread false information? Is the picture take not of UDOM students and vicinity? Is water not a problem at UDOM? Enlighten me Kaka maana mi mbumbumbu

— Enock Manini (@manini_enock) January 23, 2020

Social embed from twitter

Human rights organisations have repeatedly expressed their concerns about what is perceived as a decline of civil liberties in the country during the presidency of John Magafuli.