Tanzania loses tourism funding from World Bank after claims of killings, violence: summary

What we know

• A World Bank supported program for tourism development in Tanzania’s southern circuit has been suspended following reports of killings, rape, and forced evictions. The allegations are related to the Resilient Natural Resources Management for Tourism and Growth (Regrow) project in Tanzania.
• The Regrow program aimed at improving the management of natural resources and tourism assets in priority areas of the southern circuit and was expected to benefit about 40,000 households around the protected areas.
• The decision comes after investigations were launched by the bank into allegations of abuses around the Ruaha national park which was due to double in size as part of the programme.
• The Oakland Institute had reported a range of abuses, killings, and rape by Tanzanian rangers against villagers accused of encroachment on the national park.
• Tanzania had received $100m of the estimated $150m (Sh330bn) approved for the project and was expected to receive the remaining $50m but the Oakland report indicated that the Tanzanian government had moved forward with plans to redraw the boundaries of the national park which will result in 21.000 people facing eviction.

What they said

The World Bank, following Oakland’s report, expressed concerns about the allegations. “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. “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,” a World Bank spokesperson was cited by The Guardian. Meanwhile, the Oakland Institute expressed satisfaction with the World Bank’s decision. “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,” Anuradha Mittal, the think tank’s executive director, was quoted as saying.