Denmark withdraws Sh1 billion aid to Tanzania over gay crackdown

Tanzania is set to loose Ksh1 billion worth of aid money after its second biggest donor Denmark said it will be withdrawing it’s support for the country over deteriorating human rights in the country and the recent crackdown on homosexuals by the country’s government.

On Thursday, Reuters reported that Denmark’s decision to withdraw the aid also comes one day after the World Bank announced that it would be withdrawing a Ksh 30.9 billion loan to the country over banning pregnant girls from school.

The withdrawal of the loan by World Bank was also triggered by a declaration by the government that made it illegal to question official statistics released by the government.

“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 in reference to comments made by Regional Commissioner for Dar es Salaam Paul Makonda on November 2.

Makonda had during the press conference said that the government was acting on calls by the public that urged them to crackdown on gay individuals and prostitutes.

The Tanzanian government has however distanced itself from Makonda’s statements saying that is not the official government position.

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President John Magufuli has taken flak for his iron fist governance of the nation that has become unpopular with the country’s citizens and foreigners.

Last Week, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) officials Angela Quintal and Muthoki Mumo were arrested for interviewing a section of local journalists.

The two had gone to the country on a fact finding mission to assess the state of human rights in the country.

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A week earlier, the European Union (EU) had recalled its envoy to Tanzania for discussions after he was banished from the country by the government.