WASHINGTON, US
The World Bank has suspended financing intended to develop tourism in southern Tanzania after allegations of killings, rape and forced evictions.
The bank began investigating
last year after being accused of enabling abuses around Ruaha national park,
which was due to double in size as part of a World
Bank-supported programme.
“The World Bank is deeply
concerned about the allegations of abuse and injustice related to the Resilient
Natural Resources Management for Tourism and Growth (Regrow) project
in Tanzania,” said a World Bank spokesperson.
“We have recently received
information that suggests breaches of our policies in the implementation of the
Regrow project. We have therefore decided to suspend further disbursement of
funds with immediate effect.”
Tanzania was due to receive a
further $50m, having already received $100m of the funding. Developments
include building roads, viewing areas and visitor centres, and investing in
wildlife monitoring and increased security.
This blog reported in January 2023 that the US-based think-tank the Oakland Institute had documented a range of abuses by Tanzanian rangers against villagers accused of encroaching on the national park, including the killing of cattle herders and fishers, the confiscation of livestock and the rape of women.
The Oakland Institute welcomed
the “long overdue” decision, which came a year after the World Bank was first
informed of potential violations of its own policies on safeguarding in April
2023.
Anuradha Mittal, the
thinktank’s executive director, said: “It sends a resounding message to the
Tanzanian government that there are consequences for its rampant rights abuses
taking place across the country to boost tourism. The days of impunity are finally
coming to an end.”
The Oakland Institute said
that despite the World Bank announcing an investigation, the Tanzanian
government moved forward in October with plans to redraw the boundaries of the
national park, which would result in 21,000 people facing eviction.
The institute said their
research shows other abuses have also continued, including the killing of a
21-year-old cattle herder in October and seizure and sale of thousands of
cattle this year.
“The government’s plan to
expand the park cannot go forward against the will of local communities, who
will lose everything from such an expansion,” said Mittal. “In addition to
preventing forced evictions, the bank must focus on how to remedy the harms caused
to the villagers who have lost loved ones to ranger violence or had their lives
devastated by livelihood restrictions.”
The Tanzanian government had
not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.
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