ALL FOREIGN ENGLISH-LANGUAGE 'PIN-UP' MAGAZINES, INCLUDING 'PLAYBOY', HAVE BEEN BANNED FROM TANZANIA, AND CUSTOMS OFFICERS HAVE SERVED ALL DEALERS IN THE MAGAZINES WITH SEIZURE NOTICES AND ORDERS TO HAND IN ALL THEIR STOCKS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EAST AFRICAN CUSTOMS OFFICE SAID ON WEDNESDAY (23 OCTOBER) THAT THE BAN HAD BEEN IMPOSED BECAUSE THE MAGAZINES OFFENDED AGAINST THE CULTURE OF THE COUNTRY.

"IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THE DIGNITY AND CULTURE OF THE COUNTRY, THE GOVERNMENT, THROUGH THE EAST AFRICAN CUSTOMS, HAS DECIDED TO SEIZE THE 'PIN-UP' MAGAZINES AND IT WILL BE ILLEGAL TO SELL THE MAGAZINES", HE SAID.

THE MAGAZINES INVOLVED INCLUDE 'PLAYBOY', 'ACE', 'SIR', 'MR.', 'NACCET', 'LAFBOY', 'BACHELOR' AND 'FIGURE'.

MOST OF THE DEALERS SPENT THURSDAY (24 OCTOBER) PACKING THE MAGAZINES THEY HAD TO SEND TO CUSTOMS, BUT SOME ELECTED TO BURN THEN INSTEAD.