Tanzania’s President John Magufuli has sacked his information minister, who launched an investigation into a powerful government administrator accused of intimidating a popular private media station in the main city, Dar es Salaam.
In a mini-reshuffle announced this morning, President Magufuli did not explain why Nape Nauye had been pushed out of the cabinet.
On Tuesday, an investigating team, formed by Mr Nauye, recommended disciplinary action against embattled Dar es Salaam regional commissioner Paul Makonda following allegations that he stormed into the offices of Clouds Media Group (CMG) on Friday.
Reports say that Mr Makonda was unhappy that the TV station had failed to run a story that would have portrayed a local cleric in a bad light.
Mr Makonda and the religious leader have had a public disagreement over an alleged drugs scandal.
President Magufuli appeared to defend his administrator, a move that sparked off public outrage, especially among social media users.
Mr Makonda, who is said to enjoy a close relationship with the president, is yet to comment on the incident.