Jailed Tanzanian journalist Erick Kabendera was shocked after learning about his mother's death early this week.
Kabendera has been in detention for five months now and authorities have dragged his case in court.
Accused of writing negative stories about the State, authorities had charged Kabendera with tax evasion and money laundering.
According to his lawyer Jebra Kambole, Kabendera was despondent upon being told that Verdiana Mjwahuzi had died at Amana Hospital where she was admitted for treatment.
“He was in apparent shock and somewhat panicked when we broke the sad news to him. He remained silent for a long time and did not utter a word.”
“It was both a tough moment for us and for him as well. He changed immediately and was not the usual Kabendera. It was our turn to console him in that moment of reflection,” said Kambole who is representing the troubled journalist in the case.
The family is unsure if the authorities will allow Kabendera to attend the mother's funeral. Before her death, the octogenarian asked President John Magufuli to broker the release of the journalist.
“Most of us know the sadness of losing a mother but to Kabendera it was too difficult because he wasn’t by her bedside and isn’t sure if he could attend her funeral,” a family member said.