Tanzania’s second-biggest donor Denmark said it would withhold 10 million dollars worth of aid funds, citing concerns over human rights abuses and “unacceptable homophobic comments’’ made by a government official.
The decision came on the same day that the World Bank said it had scrapped a plan to loan Tanzania 300 million dollars after the country reaffirmed its policy of banning pregnant girls from school.
And recently Tanzania made it a crime to question official statistics of the policy.
“I am very worried about the negative development in Tanzania, the latest being the completely unacceptable homophobic statements from a commissioner,” Minister for Development Cooperation, Ulla Tornaes, said on Twitter on Wednesday.
She said Denmark will now withhold 65 million Danish crowns (9.88 million dollars) in aid to Tanzania.
Denmark provided 349 million crowns in foreign aid in 2018.
ALSO READ: Strike: FG opens talks with ASUU
The comments in question were made by the administrative chief of the capital Dar es Salaam, Paul Makonda, who earlier this month announced an anti-gay crackdown in the city, a spokeswoman for the Danish minister said.
Reuters was not able to reach Tanzanian government officials for immediate comment.
The foreign ministry has previously said Makonda’s anti-gay campaign represented his own views and not the official government position.
However, President John Magufuli’s government has also been criticised by opposition politicians and international rights groups for what they say is growing authoritarianism and intolerance of dissent.
The government rejects the criticism.
All thanks to doctor Okosun who save me from the virus hepatitis that almost kill me, and with his herbal medicine am are life today to tell my story call or WhatsApp him to help you with your virus.+2347080745608
I really want to use this medium to thank Dr Mohammed who prepared Herbs for me that cured me from HEPATITIS B virus , I’m now Hepatitis B negative, a very big thank you to Dr Mohammed may Allah gives you more strength and knowledge to heal people. You can also call/whatsapp Dr Mohammed on +2348133069352 for similar issues. Allan is great