MWE Correspondent
The Tanzania Police Force has issued a stern warning to the public after false and misleading information was circulated using its official account on X (formerly Twitter).
According to authorities, the posts—which included fabricated statements and offensive content—were not issued by the Force and were intended to mislead the public by falsely appearing as official police announcements.
The warning was delivered in an official statement from the Police Headquarters in Dar es Salaam by Deputy Commissioner of Police, David Misime, on Tuesday, May 20. Misime said the offensive posts, some of which carried the Police Force logo, were fraudulent and had no connection to the actual operations or communications of the Police.
“These statements are forged. The Police Force does not and will never distribute such unethical content via its verified social media pages,” Misime stated.
One of the fake messages falsely claimed that President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Tanzania’s first female Head of State, had died. The disinformation quickly spread online, prompting concern among citizens before it was debunked.
A livestream was also launched from the compromised account, further intensifying public anxiety. Misime clarified that the video was not authorized by the Police and investigations were now underway to track down the perpetrators.
According to the Cybercrimes Act, 2015, publishing or spreading false information using digital platforms is a criminal offense in Tanzania, punishable by heavy fines and imprisonment.
Also Read; China Cautions UK Over New US Trade Deal
Misime warned that those found responsible will be dealt with according to the law.
“We urge the public to disregard these posts. They are part of a larger attempt to mislead and destabilize public trust,” Misime added.
This incident has highlighted the vulnerability of even high-profile official accounts to cyberattacks. Analysts warn that such breaches can be dangerous in countries where digital infrastructure is still evolving, and public dependence on social media for information is increasing.
The Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) has also been informed of the incident and is cooperating with security agencies to trace the hackers’ digital footprints. The Police Force reassured citizens that additional security measures are being implemented to prevent future breaches.
Citizens are encouraged to report any suspicious content, especially that which appears to come from official institutions, and to follow verified government pages for accurate updates. For more context on how digital misinformation spreads and how to combat it, readers can refer to this guide on media literacy.
