Student faces charges for manipulating Nyerere video

Dar es Salaam. A student from Koteti College in Tanga, Bonus Mbono ,21, has been arraigned at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court on three charges, including publishing false information on TikTok and using a SIM card registered under another person’s name.

The accused appeared in court on Monday, March 10, 2025, for the reading of Economic Sabotage Case No. 5907 of 2025.

The charges were presented by State Attorney Erick Kamala before Senior Resident Magistrate Gwantwa Mwankuga.

Before the charges were read, Magistrate Mwankuga informed the accused that he was not required to respond, as the court does not have jurisdiction over economic sabotage cases unless granted special permission.

Following this, the prosecution was allowed to present the charges.

In the first charge, Kamala alleged that on February 8, 2025, at an unknown location, the accused published false information on the social media platform TikTok by editing a video of Julius Nyerere, making it appear as if he was moving his head in and out of the Tanzanian Sh1000 banknote, despite knowing it was false.

The second charge states that on the same date and at an unspecified location, the accused used an illegal device called Pix Vase to create and upload a false post on TikTok, fully aware that it was a legal offense.

The third charge alleges that on February 10, 2025, at Koteti College in Tanga, Mbono used a SIM card registered under the name Prisca Anthony, contrary to the law and without notifying the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA).

After the charges were read, the prosecution stated that investigations were still ongoing and requested another mention date.

Magistrate Mwankuga adjourned the case until April 10, 2025, for mention, and the accused remains in remand.