Posted on 03 May 2024
The World Bank has made a decisive move to suspend a substantial $150 million tourism development project in Tanzania, following grave allegations of human rights violations linked to the initiative. The project, aimed at expanding the Ruaha National Park, has been marred by accusations of rape, evictions, and killings, prompting the international financial institution to withhold the final $50 million of its budget. This suspension comes as a response to a series of reports documenting abuses by Tanzanian rangers against local villagers, including the killing of cattle herders and fishers, the confiscation of livestock, and the rape of women. The allegations suggest a stark violation of the World Bank’s safeguarding policies, leading to an immediate halt in funding.
The implications of this suspension are significant, not only for the future of the Ruaha National Park expansion but also for the Tanzanian government’s approach to tourism and conservation. Critics of the project, including the US-based think tank Oakland Institute, have long advocated for the rights of the local communities affected by the park’s enlargement. The World Bank’s decision sends a clear message that the international community will not stand by in the face of human rights abuses. As the situation unfolds, the focus now shifts to how the Tanzanian government will address these allegations and what steps will be taken to ensure the protection and fair treatment of its citizens.
Source: The World Bank