Tanzanian lecturer charged with insulting Magufuli

A Tanzanian lecturer has been charged with insulting President John Magufuli in a WhatsApp message.

The senior university lecturer, Julius Mjengi, was arraigned in court but denied the charges.

Insulting the President was made a criminal offense in Tanzania under a cyber crimes law passed last year, punishable by up to three years in jail or a fine of about Ksh 300,000 or both.

The lecturer is the 10th person to be charged under this law.

Those who have faced trial for insulting Magufuli in recent months include students and opposition politicians.