TANZANIA Editors Forum (TEF) has condemned a recent assault against Dickson Ng’hily, a business editor and head of digital department of ‘The Guardian’ newspaper.

Ng’hily was on Wednesday assaulted and detained for nearly six hours for documenting pupils studying under tree shade at Kwembe Primary School in Ubungo District, Dar es Salaam.

A statement issued yesterday by TEF’s Chairman, Deodatus Balile, stated that the forum will cooperate with the journalist to ensure that all people who caused the harm are legally punished which includes covering all the loss.

Balile said that the incident is intolerable crime and sabotage which goes against President Samia Suluhu Hassan's efforts to restore and promote media freedom in the country.

He said preventing journalists from implementing his legal professional duties by assaulting and harassing is against the law.

“Since she entered into power on March 19, 2021, President Samia has done a number of efforts to restore media freedom, something which has raised Tanzania’s press freedom rankings worldwide from 143rd to 97th. But if these actions will cause our country to decline again and affect its credibility in the international community,” he explained.

“We strongly condemn this act and urge law enforcement agencies to fully cooperate with the journalist who has already begun the process of filing criminal charges against those involved in this incident.”

Balile reminded that Section 7(2) of the Media Services Act of 2016 as amended in 2023 recognizes journalism as a profession in the country.

According to him, the authorities have no legal power to detain and search journalists while they are in their professional duties.

As part of his daily routine on Wednesday, Ng’hily ventured to Kwembe primary school at Kwembe ward, only to discover pupils engaging in their studies underneath nearby trees instead of classrooms.

Surprised by the scene unfolding before him, he felt compelled to record this snapshot of resourcefulness. Regrettably, during the photo session, one of the teachers spotted him and whispered to her colleague, "There goes your guest, snapping away.”

One teacher trailed closely behind him, insisting on seeing evidence of authorization for photographing the scene, at which the reporter responded by showing his identity as a journalist, presenting his press credentials.

During this exchange, other teachers converged on the scene, drawing curious pupils into a growing circle of amazed onlookers and shouting at staff members.

Events escalated swiftly against the reporter as school authorities and colleagues seized both his phone and identification, adding to the rough handling. A staff member struck out on the reporter’s back using a stick as if caning a pupil.

The pupils were being drawn to their teachers’ side, laying hands on Ng'hily and managing to pin him down, while someone made away with his mobile device.