The National Arts Council of Tanzania (BASATA) revoked The Look Company Limited’s license to organize the Miss Tanzania pageant due to repeated failure to comply with BASATA’s directives, including not renewing their permit, failing to submit required documents, and not organizing the competition or sending a representative for the 2024/2025 period. This action effectively struck out the company’s rights to manage the pageant.
Mwanakuzi recently criticised her political party (CCM) via Instagram in May 2025, though BASATA’s revocation cites only regulatory breaches. This revocation came on the heels of her criticism, raising concerns of whether the punitive actions were reprisals for her open dissent against CCM machinery.
Mwanukuzi’s Instagram criticisms were largely urging her political party, CCM, to conduct clean elections, and she was said to be baffled that religious leaders couldn’t talk about politics. She even posted a preacher who was speaking out against electoral injustices. Without a shred of doubt, the revocation of her licence was politically motivated, knowing the professional misconduct claims have been there for some time, and BASATA didn’t act upon them until after her recent posturing.
Here’s a more nuanced breakdown of the revocation:
The National Arts Council of Tanzania (BASATA) revoked The Look Company Limited’s license to organize the Miss Tanzania pageant due to what officially termed repeated failure to comply with BASATA’s directives, including not renewing their permit, failing to submit required documents, and not organizing the competition or sending a representative for the 2024/2025 period. This action effectively struck out the
BASATA officially revoked The Look Company Limited’s license to organise the Miss Tanzania pageant.
Reasons for Revocation.
The revocation was based on several violations of BASATA regulations, including:
- Failure to renew their permit to conduct artistic activities for over six months without valid justification.
- Disregarding BASATA’s order to submit essential documents, like a valid license for international competitions.
- Not organising the competition or sending a representative for the 2024/2025 global pageant.
- The revocation was enacted through formal notices dated “April 15, 2025” (Ref. No. AE/90/90/03/16) and “May 9, 2025” (Ref. No. AE/90/90/03/19).
Consequences:
As a result of the revocation, The Look Company Limited is deemed unfit to continue operating the Miss Tanzania contest.
What was the contextual analysis of Basilla Mwanukuzi’s CCM criticism?
Basilla Mwanakuzi’s criticism of her party, CCM, on her Instagram account in May 2025 centres on her public denunciation of the party’s governance practices, corruption, and perceived retaliation against dissenters. The exact texts of her posts are available. Jamiiforums said her allegations came in May 2025. Jamiiforums’ Instagram post on the matter didn’t specify the details of her complaints.
1. Direct Link to Miss Tanzania License Revocation.
– Mwanukuzi’s company, “The Look Company Limited”, had its license to organise the Miss Tanzania pageant revoked by the National Arts Council (BASATA) in May 2025. BASATA cited non-compliance issues, including failure to renew permits and submit required documents. However, the timing of the revocation came in a matter of months
– Mwanukuzi hasn’t publicly linked this revocation to her criticism of CCM, or framing it as “political retaliation” for her outspokenness against the party’s leadership and policies.
2. Core Criticisms of CCM from my own searches.
– Nepotism and Corruption:
She allegedly accused CCM of favouring politically connected individuals in business and government contracts, undermining fair competition. This aligns with broader reports of corruption within CCM-affiliated institutions.
In her exact words, this is what she wrote:
“Kama kiongozi kamwe usikubali kujiachanisha na watu
wako. Usikubali kuachanïshwa na watu wako. Bado una nafasi ya kurekebisha makosa. Ukaunganisha watu wako, ukawakumbatia, ukajikung’uta na kuanza
Safari upya kabisa. Safari ya kurudi kwenye njia, NJia ya matumaini kwa unaowaongoza. Ukimtanguliza Mungu mbele hakutakua na wa kukufelisha. Wakati wenyewe ni sasa, Take a bold and wise decision for a great come back!!! Ukifanikiwa kufanya hivyo utabaki milele mioyoni mwa watu wako.
Funga macho samehe kila kitu utaibuka mshindi (Nina uhakika wa hilo.)
Shughulika vikali na UFISADI.
Shughulika vikali na wazembe.
Zingatia kauli za kuwafanya unaowaongoza wa one uko nao wao na unawapigania wao, Na sio kauli za kuonyesha uko na wachache.(wanaonufaika).
Wakiwa na sintofahamu kuhusu rasilimali zao, Jitokeze kusema nao. Jitokeze kuwaelewesha ili nao waelewe nia yako njema kama kiongozi wao, Usikae kimya, usitoe mwanya na nafasi ya kutoeleweka. You have the ability to
change the narrative by rectifying mistakes.
As a diplomat we are trained to always invest in the basket of friendship hakikisha kapu lako la marafiki linajaa na sio kupungua maana kapu la maadui likwa linajaa watakuangamiza na kufurahia your downfall, Tusiruhusu hilo litokee.
Linda imani ya watu wako kwa wivu mkubwa na kwa wale imanf imepotea irejeshe kwa nguvu na gharama kubwa ya kusamehe kwa sababu kiongozi imani ya watu wako kwako ndio kila kitu,
Shuka chini kabisa huku sikiliza Sauti ya watu wako
Kutoka huko juu uliko hadi huku chini waliko kuna umbali mrefu usikubali kuishia Kati wenye maslahi binafsi watakupotosha (kwamba all is well).
All is not well,” End of quotation.
In this post, you can clearly see the interpretation of the authorities as she was teaching them how to do their jobs. Having served in the government the mood ought to have been that Mwanukuzi was ungrateful for what they had done to her.
They probably deemed her appointment in 2021 as Korogwe D.C went unappreciated. Similar sentiments were relayed by the deputy CCM National chairperson, Steven Wasira, on Kisesa MP, Luhaga Joelson Mpina’s recalcitrance. This is roughly what Wasira had said:
“…. Mpina aifunze kuwa na shukrani kwa Rais Samia Suluhu Hassan.” End of quotation.
The message was loud and clear. Even in elective office, you serve at the behest of presidential pleasure! How much more that expectation is directed to those with presidential appointments like Basilla Mwanukuzi despite the sack after about two years in service?
– Suppression of Dissent:
Mwanakuzi condemned the party’s systemic silencing of critics, referencing the denunciation of preachers who questioned electoral injustices. This is what she penned down in her Instagram page. In her another post, this is what she had reposted James Mbatia, the chairperson of NCCR-MAGEUZI, post questioning the role of police in frustrating the Gwajima’s church from operating:
“…POLISI HAWAKUPASWA KUTUMIKA
SUALA LA GWAJIMA: MBATIA” End of quotation.
This post came at the height of President Samia Suluhu Hassan being riled for condoning human rights abuses. Obviously, her appointees in the government were infuriated with her alignment with human rights activists.
She also reposted what a preacher said in her Instagram page:
– Lack of Internal Democracy:
She highlighted the “dominance of hardline factions” within CCM, which marginalize reformists and prioritize authoritarian control over inclusive governance. This reflects internal CCM divisions described in sources.
This is in her own writings in her Instagram account:
“Hapo hapo tunasema tutende haki
Vikao viamue kwa haki na vichague
wagombea wanaofaa (na wasiofaa
waambiwe hawafai ) kwa sababu hizi
na hizi…Hapo hapo tena tunaagiza
na kuviamulia vikao kwa maelekezo
flani asichaguliwe.” End of quotation.
3. Broader Political Climate.
– Her criticism coincided with Tanzania’s “pre-election crackdown” (October 2025 elections), where CCM intensified repression against dissent:
– Mwanukuzi’s posts amplified growing public discontent over “economic inequality” and CCM’s “parallel reality” of staged unity amid widespread suffering and electoral malfeasance.
4. Personal Political Stakes.
– As a former Miss Tanzania (1998), former Korogwe D.C. and CCM member, Mwanakuzi’s criticism carried symbolic weight. Her business setback (Miss Tanzania license revocation) exemplified how CCM allegedly “weaponizes state institutions” against critics.
– Her alleged stance resonated with factions within CCM advocating for democratic reforms, contrasting with the “bulldozer” legacy of Magufuli-era hardliners.
- After this revocation, it is unlikely she will attempt to seek elective office under the CCM banner. She is most likely to hibernate until president Samia Suluhu Hassan ends her presidency in 2030 as widely anticipated. Thereafter, she can begin rebuilding the burnt bridges, she will need to restore her lost glory
- In the meantime, she can challenge the ruling to the minister for Arts & Sports within 21 days from the day when BASATA revoked her licence to operate the Miss Tanzania pageantry.
- She cannot directly go to the High Court since her rights to be heard were observed albeit the revocation lacks merits
Significance.
Mwanakuzi’s criticism reflected “broader disillusionment” within CCM, where even loyalists risked reprisal for demanding levelling the playing field and accountability. Her case underscored the “erosion of democratic space” under President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration, despite her initial “4Rs” (Reconciliation, Resilience, Reforms, Rebuilding) rhetoric. The timing—weeks before elections—highlighted CCM’s zero-tolerance for internal dissent during a high-stakes political season.
Was the revocation of Basilla Mwanukuzi operating Miss Tanzania politically motivated or invoked on professional Misconduct?
The revocation of Miss Basilla Mwanukuzi’s title as Miss Tanzania in 2023 appears to have been “primarily based on cited professional inadequacies and breaches of contract by the organizers”, though the context of her activism (particularly on deteriorating political pluralism on her Instagram account) inevitably led to speculation about political motivations.
Here’s a breakdown of the key factors:
1. Official Reasons (Professional Inadequacies/Breach of Contract):
* Breach of Contract:
The Miss Tanzania Organization explicitly stated Basilla violated her contract multiple times. Key allegations included:
* Failure to Fulfill Duties:
BASATA framed this as a failure to uphold the responsibilities and duties expected of Miss Tanzania, undermining their platform and brand.
The reasons given by BASATA are without merits, at all. Her company role was to conduct Miss Tanzania pageantry, which she has never failed to do. What happens to the winners is really not hers to consider.
Winners are required to fund their trips to the Miss World contest. If they fail to mobilize resources for the Miss World contest that’s their business not of the Tanzania pageantry organizers.
Claims of international certification not being shared with BASATA are absurd, and cannot qualify for revocation!
2. The Context Fuelling Speculation of Political Motivation:
* Government Criticism:
Her Instagram posts critical of the government may have created powerful enemies sufficient to cause her licence to operate Miss Tanzania revoked. Given that BASATA’s reasons were pathetic to justify the revocation of her licence therefore political retaliation should be taken with the solemnity it deserved.
BASATA has been notorious to discipline dissenting performing artists such as Ney wa Mitego leading to public opinion to sway against it.
3. Assessment of the Evidence:
* BASATA’s trail of censorship works agaivst it:
BASATA has a history of dethroning queens for breaches of contract (e.g., Diana Luqambo in 2018 for unauthorized travel/events). Their stated reasons for Basilla’s revocation followed a similar pattern.
* This defiance “by the organizers against BASATA’s order” is the revocation context mentioned.
* Lack of Direct Evidence:
There is no publicly available “concrete evidence” (leaked documents, credible testimonies) proving the government directly pressured the BASATA to revoke her title “specifically because” of her activism in Instagram. However, the government ought to be pleased Basilla Mwanukuzi has paid ultimate price for her Instagram political activism.
* Activism as a Potential Trigger:
While not proven, it’s plausible that her high-profile activism, especially the May Instagram regime criticism, “made the BASATA leadership uncomfortable” or drew unwelcome scrutiny from authorities. This discomfort could have influenced how strictly they enforced contract terms they might have overlooked otherwise.
* Organization’s Political Ties:
Critics often point out that BASATA and its leadership operate within Tanzania’s socio-political landscape, where maintaining good relations with the establishment can be important. Avoiding association with opposition figures is a common practice in such environments.
Conclusion:
While “the official justification centered firmly on professional conduct and contract breaches”, the “timing and context of her activism, particularly after adopting opposition talking points, created a strong perception of possible political motivation” among the public and observers.
BASATA established pattern of enforcing contract rules lends weight to their stated reasons. However, the sensitivity of her social media criticism and the volatile political climate in Tanzania make it difficult to completely dismiss the possibility that her activism played a role, even if indirectly, by making the organization more eager or stricter in enforcing rules against her.
Therefore, the revocation was “officially and demonstrably based on cited professional inadequacies and contract violations”, but these events occurred against a “backdrop that inevitably fueled credible speculation about underlying political discomfort playing a contributing factor.” The lack of direct evidence makes “political motivation” speculative, while the professional failings were explicitly cited.
Read more analysis by Rutashubanyuma Nestory
