In a bid to prevent him from holding a press conference at a hotel in the main city, Dar es Salaam, a policeman in plain clothes pointed a gun at Tanzania's sacked minister of information, Nape Nauye.

According to Ceoafrica, there was also a scuffle involving plain clothes officers, a man who had accompanied Mr Nauye, and other men whose identities were not ascertained.

Although, the gun was pointed at Mr Nauye to try and force him to return to his car, but he eventually spoke, standing up through the sunroof of his vehicle.

Apart from journalists, many other people had come to hear Mr Nauye's reaction to his controversial dismissal from the cabinet by President John Magufuli.

Mr Nauye said he respected the president's right to sack him.

Referring to the scuffle, Nauye said “why would somebody point a pistol at me? I’ve been very patriotic to this country and my party, and I swear I will continue to be loyal”.