By Enyichukwu Enemanna
A Tanzanian portrait artist who was last week convicted and slammed a two-year prison sentence over offences bordering on cybercrimes, has been released from prison.
This came after social media users raised over $2,000 (£1,600) to pay his fine.
Shadrack Chaula, 24, was ordered by a court to pay the fine or face two years in prison after he admitted recording a video that went viral on social media, showing him burning a picture of President Samia Suluhu Hassan while raining insults on her.
“Thank you very much fellow Tanzanians for coming to my rescue,” Mr Chaula told journalists shortly after his release on Monday.
His conviction last week attracted nationwide condemnation, with some lawyers arguing that the painter did not break any law by burning the President’s picture.
He was arrested for using “strong words” against President Samia in the TikTok video he recorded in Ntokela village near the south-western city of Mbeya, the police claimed.
During his appearance before the judge last Thursday, Mr Chaula was charged with spreading false information about the President, contravening the country’s cybercrime laws.
His actions constituted cyber-harassment and incitement, the court ruled.
Chaula pleaded guilty to the offence.
Critics said the sentence was too harsh but the prosecution had pushed for a more severe penalty, saying this was necessary to deter others from “disrespecting” the President.
Heritage Times HT reports that Tanzania had in 2018 enacted tough laws against the spread of “fake news”, which critics saw as a move to curb freedom of expression.
Users of X, formerly Twitter, raised $2,100 in six hours, according to activist Godlisten Malisa, who coordinated the fund-raising.
Chaula was given the remaining $100 to support his artwork, he said.
The country faces a high cost of living amidst stagnant income, causing raft of economic difficulties among the populace.
