News Details

#MariaSpaces  #WenyeNchiWananchi #KatibaMpya #ChangeTanzania 

Tarehe 13 Oktoba 2023, Mamlaka ya Mawasiliano Tanzania (TCRA) ilitoa Tangazo kwa Umma kuhusu matumizi ya Mtandao wa Kibinafsi wa VPN nchini kwa maelezo kuwa kasi ya upatikanaji wa maudhui yaliyopigwa marufuku mtandaoni kupitia VPN ni ya kutisha ikimaanisha kuwa VPN inatumika sana katika uvunjaji wa Kanuni na Sheria za Tanzania. TCRA imeutaarifu umma kwamba watu binafsi na mashirika ambayo utekelezaji wa majukumu yao ya kila siku yanahitaji matumizi ya VPN na matumizi ya VPN ni ya lazima, kuifahamisha TCRA kuhusu VPN walizo nazo, kutuma na taarifa zote muhimu ikijumuisha anwani ya IP kabla ya tarehe 30 Oktoba 2023 kupitia kiungo cha mtandaoni kilichotolewa kwenye notisi. Zaidi ya hayo, TCRA imesema itaendelea kufuatilia matumizi ya VPN na kupiga marufuku matumizi ya VPN ambazo hazijasajiliwa. Kwa kifupi, matumizi ya VPN nchini Tanzania yanaruhusiwa tu ikiwa mtu anahitaji kutumika kwa mujibu wa asili ya kazi yake, na ikiwa tu anwani ya IP ya VPN na maelezo mengine yamefichuliwa kikamilifu kwa TCRA.

Haki ya faragha imelindwa na katiba yetu, na katiba imeitaka serikali kuweka sheria zinazotengeza mazingira ambayo hiyo haki ya faragha inaweza ikaingiliwa bila kuathiri utu wa mtu. Sheria zetu pia zinaruhusu wananchi kutumia njia za kujilinda, na haki ya mtu kujilinda sio tuu wakati wa kupigwa lakini hata kulinda mawasiliano binafsi hii ikihusiha pia matumizi ya VPN lakini mpaka iwe kosa kutumia VPN ni mpaka kuwe na kosa la jinai. Wananchi wamechukulia hatua hii kama njia ya serikali kulenga maudhui ya kisiasa ambayo yanaongeza uelewa wa wananchi juu ya mambo yanayoendelea nchini na uovu unafanywa na serikali lakini pia kulenga kuzimisha harakati huru nchini ili zisipige hatua katika kuamsha wananchi juu ya haki zao. Ni makosa kuzuia mawazo huru ya watu yaliyoruhusiwa kikatiba na ni makosa pia kuzuia mkusanyiko wa watu iwe ni ya mtandaoni au mikutano ya hadhara. Wananchi wana haki ya faragha, kwa TCRA kufanya hivi inaipa serikali nguvu ya kuwafuatilia wananchi wake. Wananchi wanaopigania harakati za maendeleo si maadui bali ni chaachu ya maendeleo nchini. Serikali ijitafakari upya na itambue kuwa bila uhuru wa kujiulieza na uhuru wa vyombo vya habari taifa linabaki salama. 

#ChangeTanzania   #WenyeNchiWananchi 

ENGLISH VERSION

On October 13, 2023, the Tanzania Communications Authority (TCRA) issued a Public Notice on the use of VPN Private Networks in the country with the information that the speed of access to banned content online through VPN is alarming, meaning that VPNs are widely used in violation of theTanzanian Laws. TCRA has notified the public that individuals and organizations whose daily responsibilities require the use of a VPN and the use of a VPN is mandatory, to inform TCRA of the VPN they use and all relevant information, including IP address before 30 October 2023 through the online link provided in the notice. Additionally, TCRA has said it will continue to monitor the use of VPNs and ban the use of unregistered VPNs. In plain text, the use of VPN in Tanzania is only allowed if only needed given the nature of the work done, and only if the VPN's IP address and other details are fully disclosed to the Tanzania Communication and Regulatory Authority.

The right to privacy is protected by our constitution, and the constitution requires the government to establish laws that create an environment in which the right to privacy can be interfered with without affecting a person's personality. Our laws also allow citizens to use self-defense methods, and the right of a person to defend himself or herself is not only when physically assaulted but extends to protect one’s personal communication, this also involves the use of VPN, that is it is only made illegal when used to commit a criminal offense. Citizens have taken this action as a way for the government to target political content that increases the public's understanding of what is going on in the country and the evil being done by the government and also to stop free movements in the country from taking steps to awaken the people about their rights. We need leaders to be responsive to the people, thus restricting people from freely communicating in their own privacy that is allowed by the constitution is wrong but also is restricting people from associating whether it is online or in public meetings. Citizens have the right to privacy, the government by doing this gives itself power to monitor its citizens. Activists running free movements are not enemies but catalysts in bringing the development we want to see. The government should self examine and realize that without freedom of expression and freedom of the media, the nation will not remains safe.

#ChangeTanzania   #WenyeNchiWananchi