By Business Insider Reporter
The Court of Appeal has upheld a High Court ruling in favor of Treasury Registrar, Nehemia Mchechu, in a defamation case against Mwananchi Communications Limited (MCL) and the editor of The Citizen newspaper. The appellate court dismissed MCL’s appeal, affirming the previous judgment that awarded Mchechu TSh 2 billion in damages for reputational harm caused by defamatory publications.
The case originated from articles published by The Citizen in 2020, which Mchechu argued contained false and malicious statements that damaged his reputation.
In March 2023, the High Court ruled in his favor, ordering MCL to pay TSh2 billion in general damages and to publish a public apology and retraction in The Citizen newspaper.
MCL appealed the decision, challenging both the findings of defamation and the amount of damages awarded.
However, on June 4, 2025, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, stating that the High Court had correctly applied the law in determining that the publications were defamatory and that the damages awarded were appropriate given the severity of the harm to Mchechu’s reputation.
Legal experts have noted the significance of this ruling in reinforcing the standards for responsible journalism in Tanzania.
The affirmation of the High Court’s ruling by the Court of Appeal serves as a precedent in Tanzanian defamation law, highlighting the judiciary’s stance on protecting individuals from harmful and unfounded public allegations.
It also emphasises the balance between freedom of the press and the responsibility to uphold ethical journalism standards.
