Popular Tanzanian musician, Diamond Platnumz, has been arrested for publishing “indecent” photographs on social media, the information minister told parliament on Tuesday.
Images have circulated on social networks showing the 28-year-old singer, shirtless and in bed with a female companion.
The arrest comes amid a crackdown on social media use, where bloggers in Tanzania now have to pay the government over $900 to operate.
Another musician, Nandy, was also reportedly arrested for “posting a video clip of herself and another musician via WhatsApp that the authorities considered ‘indecent'”.
Both artists are out on bail but will be charged with criminal charges.
“Among our artists, there are some who are starting to spread indecency on social media,” Harrison Mwakyembe said.
“I inform you that yesterday we were able to arrest the great musician Diamond Platnumz, he is being questioned by the police about indecent photos he circulated.
“Social media is not a garbage dump of sorts. Our country has a culture,” he said, adding the musician would be brought to justice.
Diamond Platnumz, whose real name is Naseeb Abdul Juma, is popular across East Africa.
He dominated the 2015 and 2016 editions of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), winning three awards on both occasions including artiste of the year.
