Shadrack Chaula, a young Tanzanian portrait artist, has been freed from prison following a successful public fundraising campaign. Chaula was convicted of cybercrime for burning a picture of President Samia Suluhu Hassan and insulting her in a viral social media video.
The case sparked controversy, with some lawyers arguing that Chaula’s actions did not violate any laws. However, he was charged with spreading false information about the president, contravening Tanzania’s cybercrime laws. The court ruled his actions constituted cyber harassment and incitement.
Social media users raised over $2,000 in just six hours to pay Chaula’s fine, preventing him from serving a two-year prison sentence. This swift public response is seen as a statement against perceived government overreach and in support of freedom of expression.
The incident has reignited debates about Tanzania’s strict laws against “fake news” and their impact on free speech. While President Samia introduced reforms to increase political and civic freedoms after taking office in 2021, opposition and rights groups expressed concerns about a potential return to more repressive governance.
Chaula’s case highlights ongoing tensions between government control and civil liberties in Tanzania, as well as the power of social media in mobilizing public support for individual cases.