IN THE NAME of the PRESIDENT: MEMOIRS of a JAILED JOURNALIST

When John Magufuli rose to power in Tanzania in 2015, he quickly became a symbol of bold leadership across Africa. From Kenya to South Africa to Nigeria, users of the social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), showered him with praise and used the hashtag #WhatWouldMagufuliDo to draw attention to their own leaders’ failings. This popularity was fuelled by widespread media coverage of his strong criticism of Western powers and a series of early, impactful reforms.Yet, while Magufuli’s popularity soared abroad, a chilling reality was unfolding at home. Tanzanians were gripped with fear as decomposing bodies of blindfolded victims riddled with bullet wounds and stuffed into plastic bags washed ashore and a relentless crackdown on freedom of expression was effected. Criticism of the regime even in casual or private conversations, let alone posts on social media, became risky as covert operatives closely monitored the public discourse. Whispered rumours of critics vanishing and being fed to crocodiles became disturbingly commonplace.In the Name of the President: Memoirs of a Jailed Journalist, journalist Erick Kabendera shares his firsthand account of these turbulent years. As a freelance reporter for international publications, Kabendera risked everything and angered President Magufuli by exposing the unsettling reality of fear and repression behind the façade of revolution and stability. His investigations made him a target of assassination attempts before being kidnapped and imprisoned on dubious charges.With Magufuli’s sudden death of Covid-19 in 2021, Tanzania managed to avert a succession crisis and looks set to move forward quietly past the dark chapter of Magufuli rule. But Kabendera’s memoir refuses to let these stories be forgotten. in this fearless expose, he recounts his personal ordeal while shining the light on the fragility of democracy when power remains unchecked. As Tanzania prepares for yet another presidential election in 2025, In the Name of the President: Memoirs of a Jailed Journalist, is a timely reminder of what is at stake when history’s hard lessons are ignored.About the AuthorErick Kabendera is a Tanzanian freelance journalist and a PhD candidate at the African Leadership Centre at King’s College London. With over 20 years of reporting experience, he has covered conflicts and political developments across East and Central Africa primarily for the East African − one of the continent's leading newspapers. Additionally, he has contributed to The African Report, The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), The Guardian UK, and The Times of London.As a young boy, he dreamed of becoming a professional boxer, but his mother never approved of the idea. However, he still competes in amateur boxing in his spare time. This is his first book for a general audience. Read more