An opposition MP in Tanzania has been jailed five months after being found guilty of defaming the country’s President John Magufuli.
The Citizen news site reports that Joseph Mbilinyi, from the opposition Chadema party, was convicted by a magistrate’s court in the southwestern town of Mbeya.
Mbilinyi and another person Emmanuel Masonga were accused of committing “hate speech” against President Magufuli at Mwenge Primary School in Mbeya last year.
The two were each handed the five-month prison sentence after their conviction.
President Magufuli is well known for his hard governance style where is is usually clashes with those who oppose him.
Last year churches critical of him were told they risk closure and a threat of revoking their registration was issued by the country.
Tanzania has said that churches being critical of the country’s president are mixing “religion and politics”.
A cleric recently criticised President Magufuli’s leadership in a Christmas sermon after several reports of intolerance for dissent from the government under Magufuli.
