I am a Tanzanian blogger, journalist, lawyer, and digital activist. I am interested in finding ways to amplify voices from non-English speaking parts of the world. Global voices, I believe, ought to be multicultural and multilingual.
I am also interested in the relationship between ICT and development in the developing world, particularly Africa.
I am the Sub-Saharan Africa Editor at Global Voices. I mostly blog in Kiswahili at Jikomboe. But you can also find me at Digital Africa.
Latest posts by Ndesanjo Macha
South Africans Want Their Government's Hands Off Social Media
South Africa's Minister of State Security announced that his government is contemplating regulating social media to counter false narratives and the spread of fake news.
#FreeMaxenceMelo: Authorities Charge Tanzanian Whistleblowing Website Owner Under Cybercrimes Law
"Mentioning 'Tanzania' and 'democracy' in the same sentence amounts to subjecting the term 'democracy' to ridicule."
In Tanzania, Expressing Political Opinions on Social Media is Becoming Increasingly Dangerous
Five Tanzanian citizens, Dennis Temu, Suleiman Nassoro, Shakira Makame, Juma Mtatuu, Dennis Mtegwa, appeared before a Tanzanian court September 14 charged with insulting President John Magufuli on social media. The five denied the charges. It is alleged that the five shared offensive content targeting the president and the police between August…
#ShutDownZim: Will Social Media Protests Drive Zimbabwe to Build a ‘Great Firewall'?
This is the first time Zimbabwe has staged a "shutdown" over government dysfunction by organizing on social media. But protests could trigger new forms of censorship.
Tanzanian Prosecuted For “Insulting” the President on WhatsApp
Mulokozi is the latest victim of Tanzania's relatively new Cybercrime Law, which attempts to address issues such as child pornography, cyberbullying, online impersonation, and the publication of false information.
National Bank of Kenya Takes Blogger to Court for “Defamatory” Blog Posts
The bank took Cyprian Nyakundi to court following a series of critical stories. Nyakundi calls himself a "Kenyan-based blogger who has an interest in politics, governance, corporate-fraud and human-interest stories."
Tanzanian Man Could Face Three Years’ Jailtime for “Insulting” the President on Facebook
The case falls against a backdrop of Tanzania's Cybercrime Law, passed in 2015, which critics say gives too much power -- without meaningful oversight -- to police.
Kenyan Blogger and Photographer Goes Missing
Before disappearing, he wrote on Facebook about how his arrest and 'terrorism suspect' label have destroyed his career and livelihood.
Tanzania's Cybercrime Act Makes It Dangerous to “Insult” the President on Facebook
Tanzanian netizen Isaac Habakuk Emily is accused of posting a controversial Facebook message "insulting" the president of Tanzania.
Ghanaian Facebook Commentator Sued For Defamation by Deputy Attorney General
'Is there any fundraising effort to support our brother Evron Rothschild Hughes fight this impudence of a libel suit filed against free speech by Ghana's Deputy Attorney General?'
Four Tanzanians Charged For Publishing Political Information On WhatsApp
Four other Tanzanians have been arrested and charged for political comments they made using the messaging service WhatsApp.
Two Tanzanians Accused of Posting ‘False Information’ Face Charges Under New Cybercrime Law
According to the state, both men have violated Section 16 of Cybercrimes Act, which prohibits "publication of false information." Little more is currently known about their cases.
Kenyan Public Intellectual Accused of Using Hate Speech on Twitter
Kenyan political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi apologises to the Luo ethnic group and Law Society of Kenya head by offering a goat and a beer after attacking them on Twitter.
An Official White House Visit to Ethiopia? Africans Tell Obama ‘Don't Do It!’
Despite recent elections that swept the one opposition member from parliament, US President Barack Obama is planning a visit to Ethiopia.
Kenyan Blogger Bogonko Bosire is Still Missing, Nearly Two Years After His Disappearance
Controversial Kenyan blogger Bogonko Bosire went missing two years ago. Kenyans have revived his search with the hashtag #WhereIsBogonkoBosire.
Arbitrary Arrests, Cybercrime, and Mass Mobile Adoption: Monitoring Digital Rights in Sub-Saharan Africa
Global Voices speaks to Tom Rhodes, the East Africa representative for the Committee to Protect Journalists, about the state of freedom of expression online in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Tanzania's Cyber Crime Bill Gives More Power to Police, Less to People
Leading opponents of the legislation from civil society say they will take the government to court if the president signs the bill into law.
54 Days in Prison and Counting for Ethiopia's Zone 9 Bloggers
Six members of the Zone 9 blogging collective and three journalists have been in prison with no formal charges since April 25, 2014.
1000 Days in Jail for Ethiopian Journalist Reeyot Alemu
On March 16, 2014, jailed Ethiopian journalist Reeyot Alemu spent her 1000th day in prison. Twitter users lent their support using the hashtag #ReeyotAlemu.
Zimbabwe: My Blog is Blocked!
On Friday March 20, 2009 the Zimbabwean blog, Peace, love & happiness unto the whole world, was blocked. The author of the blog, Eusebia, wrote a short post about it saying, "I have not idea why my blog is being blocked...I refuse to be censored or cowered into silence by anyone because I know my human right of freedom of expression..."
