Tanzania's President, John Magufuli has warned newspapers that their "days were numbered" after he accused some of them of inciting dissent.

According to Ceoafrica, he gave the warning during a rally in the north-western town of Shinyanga, where he said that "we will not allow Tanzania to be a dump yard for inciting content; this will not happen under my administration."

He accused two newspapers, which he did not name, of seeking to cause trouble adding that "whenever you read them, they are full of inciting content; their days are numbered," he said.

Government officials said he was probably referring to an English and Swahili daily which have published some articles critical of government policies.

President Magufuli signed a law in November which journalists said was aimed at muzzling the press, as the Media Services Act gives officials powers to shut down media organisations that violate their licences by confiscating printing machines.

In December, Tanzanian police arrested the co-founder of whistle-blowing site known as Jamii Forums over refusal to disclose details of people who posted on the site.