Tanzania abuses British citizens but says no to gay rights!

 

Tanzania, happy to abuse the rights of British Citizens, imprison them, destroy their investment and chase them from the country like dogs but says no to gay rights!!!!

 

 

Dar es Salaam says no to homosexuality

THE Union Government and that of Zanzibar have rejected plea by the British government to review their legislations to accommodate homosexuality, saying that was impossible.

Speaking on different occasions on Thursday, the Zanzibar President, Dr Ali Mohammed Shein and the Union Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr Bernard Membe, said the conditions given by the British Government were unacceptable.
They said Tanzania was ready to lose aid from the British government rather than reform legislations banning homosexuality.

Addressing a news conference on the occasion to mark one year of formation of Government of National Unity on the Isles, Dr Shein said same sex marriage violated Zanzibar's ideals and Islamic religion.

"Accepting that condition is next to impossible. We will never ever take that option. They can stop aid if they wish," said Dr Shein.

At the news conference, Mr Membe said homosexuality was a misdemeanor to Tanzania culture and religions.

"Our position on this matter is crystal clear. Our moral values and culture will always prevail even if we remained poor. We understand the issue is UK's Conservative Party policy but we will not bow to their pressure," Mr Membe, said, adding:

"Our morals and laws are against homosexuality. We stand by our dignity. We would rather lose the aid than succumb to the dim-witted string attached."

The remarks by Mr Membe follows a statement made by UK Prime Minister, Mr David Cameron, earlier this week that his government would withhold aid to Commonwealth governments that will not reform legislation banning homosexuality.

The Premier made the comments on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) which ended recently in Perth, Australia.
Mr Membe cited Article 9, section 1 and 3 of the 1971 constitution which prohibits sexual relations between single sex.

The law stresses that the foundation of the nation is the family."According to the penal code, homosexuality is a criminal offence which attracts a sentence of not less than 30 years in prison," he said.  Ironically, these legislations were borrowed from Tanzania's former colonial master, Britain, which is now promoting homosexuality in the name of preserving human rights.

Mr Membe stressed that the homosexuality issue was neither discussed nor was it on the agenda of CHOGM.

"They were however, several attempts to bring up the issue at a meeting involving senior officials all in vain," said Mr Membe, who accompanied President Jakaya Kikwete to the CHOGM in Australia.

He warned that if Britain was adamant, it might split up the 54-member Commonwealth. There are about 2 billion people within the organization.
"The Commonwealth may collapse, and should this happen, the PM (Mr Cameron) will be responsible," declared the minister. According to Mr Membe, only 13 countries of the 54 Commonwealth member states support the homosexuality agenda.

Minister Membe said sometime this year, a friendly western country had written to his ministry, notifying that it would be sending an envoy to Tanzania who was gay. "After several correspondences, the country gave in as we would not succumb to immorality," he said.

The UK has been Tanzania's traditional trade and investment partner for decades. It has been channelling its aid through the Official Development Assistance (ODA) and General Budget Support (GBS).

Meanwhile, MARC NKWAME from Arusha reports that the Minister for Gender, Children and Community Development, Ms Sophia Simba, said on Thursday that Tanzania is a sovereign state and hence free to decide on what to do/or not to do.

The Minister was responding to a question by 'Daily News' on Tanzania's position on the British PM statement.

"Tanzania cannot accept Mr Cameron's proposal, because we have our own moral values. Homosexuality is not part of our culture and we'll never legalise such a thing," the minister stressed.

Malawi has already had some of its budget support suspended over concerns about its attitude to gay rights. Concerns have also been raised with the governments of Uganda and Ghana.