Superstar Diamond Platnumz is decrying travel restrictions by the Tanzanian Arts Council.
The Wasafi honcho claims that he is barred from leaving Tanzania without a special permit.
He says that Tanzanian customs have an additional requirement for artists on the record label whenever they are traveling out of the country.
“I think it is something for Wasafi signed artists, we are not allowed to go beyond the airport without a permit from the authorities, the moment I get there I am told I am supposed to have a permit which costs Sh50,000 (Ksh.2,400),” Diamond said in an interview with Wasafi FM recently.
The hitmaker alleges that he is forced to get the permit even when traveling for non-business matters, such as visiting his children in South Africa.
Tanzania’s National Arts Council (BASATA) has, however, disputed Diamond’s claims that the requirement has been imposed on Wasafi artists, stating that it is standard policy for all artists traveling abroad for performances.
“There is no way a law can be enacted for just a certain individual, all artists traveling abroad for performances are required to obtain a permit from Basata at a fee of Sh50,000,” the council’s acting Secretary-General Matiko Mniko told local media.
This is not the first time the father of four has clashed with BASATA, in 2019 as reported by The Sauce, the government body had banned Diamond and his WCB signee Raymond Shaban aka Rayvanny from performing their explicit song Mwanza, releasing new music, organizing, and performing Wasafi Festival in and out of Tanzania.
