Tanzanian president warns local media to be careful ;

DAR ES SALAAM, March 24 ) - Tanzanian President John Magufuli on Friday warned journalists and media owners in the east African country to be careful, saying there is limit to their press freedom.

President Magufuli ordered newly sworn-in Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports Harrison Mwakyembe to crack down on news outlets that publish or broadcast inciting material.

The president made the warning just a day after dismissing erstwhile Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports Nape Nnauye in a mini cabinet reshuffle.

"I would like to tell media owners -- be careful, watch it ... if you think you have that kind of freedom, not to that extent," warned Magufuli after swearing in Mwakyembe at State House in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam.

He added: "Mwakyembe, now get down to work. If others could not take action (against errant media), I want you to take action."

Magufuli said he would not allow his government to collapse because of a few individuals who were bent on promoting malicious coverage against his administration in the local media.

He cited the 1994 genocide in neighboring Rwanda, saying journalists in that country played a prominent role in fanning hatred and violence that ultimately led to the slaughter of close to one million people.

Magufuli appealed to journalists and media owners in Tanzania to put national interests at heart in their media coverage.

He also raised concern about the menace of "fake news" circulating on online discussion forums and social media, urging the contributors to be responsible and avoid insulting government leaders.

For his part, Mwakyembe, himself a former journalist, pledged to work closely with Tanzanian journalists and appealed for their cooperation.