Tanzania’s second-biggest donor, Denmark, will withhold a large part of the aid money it pays to the country amid concerns over human rights and “unacceptable homophobic comments” made by a government official, the Danish development minister told parliament on Wednesday.
The decision came on the same day that the World Bank stated it had cancelled a plan to loan Tanzania $300 million after the country reaffirmed its policy of banning pregnant girls from school and recently made it a crime to question official statistics.
“I am very worried about the negative development in Tanzania. Latest the completely unacceptable homophobic statements from a commissioner,” Minister for Development Cooperation Ulla Tornaes said on Twitter.
The comments in question were made by administrative chief of the capital Dar es Salaam, Paul Makonda, who earlier in November announced an anti-gay crackdown in the city, according to a spokesperson for the Danish minister.
The foreign ministry has previously said Makonda’s anti-gay campaign represented his own views and not the official government position.
However, President 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.
