DAR ES SALAAM – Tanzanian police said yesterday they had arrested a prominent investigative journalist and were looking into his citizenship in another case triggering concern over press freedom under President John Magufuli’s rule.

Erick Kabendera’s detention on Monday, by about half a dozen plainclothes police at his home on the outskirts of the commercial capital Dar es Salaam, came despite a 2013 government probe concluding his citizenship was not an issue. The city’s police chief Lazaro Mambosasa said the journalist was arrested after refusing to heed a summons.

“Kabendera has not been abducted … he has been arrested by the Tanzania Police Force as part of an investigation into his citizenship,” he told reporters. “He is in safe hands.” Police were working with the Immigration Department and would likely file criminal charges after the investigation, Mombosasa said, without giving more details.Police sources said Kabendera’s family allegedly originated from a neighbouring country and he did not follow proper procedures for naturalisation.(Reuters)…[+]