World Bank Halts Funding of Tanzania Tourism Project Amid Allegations of Abuse
NEW YORK — The World Bank has made the decision to put a stop to its financial support of a $150m ($120m) tourism initiative in Tanzania following disturbing reports of rape, evictions, and killings.
The Ruaha National Park was supposed to undergo a significant expansion as part of the project, but critics have raised serious concerns about the widespread abuses that have occurred as a result.
The World Bank initiated an investigation last year after facing accusations of being complicit in the reported abuses.
On Tuesday, a spokesperson from the bank expressed deep concern over the allegations and announced the immediate suspension of further funding disbursements.
The Resilient Natural Resource Management for Tourism and Growth (Regrow) project was launched in 2017 with the aim of enhancing the management of natural resources and tourism assets in southern Tanzania, encompassing several national parks, as per the World Bank.
Despite already disbursing at least $100m for the project, the US-based think tank Oakland Institute has highlighted the questionable practices surrounding the expansion of Ruaha National Park, a vast conservation area home to lions and other wildlife.
For over a year, Oakland Institute has been reporting on alleged abuses associated with the project, which, while funded by the World Bank, has been carried out by Tanzanian authorities.
Reports from Oakland Institute have indicated instances of rape by rangers funded by Regrow, as well as allegations of ranger-involved killings of villagers.
The Tanzanian government has not responded to requests for comment from the BBC regarding these allegations.
Following the suspension of funding, Anuradha Mittal, executive director of Oakland Institute, commended the decision as a crucial step towards accountability and justice for the affected communities.
The think tank emphasized the need for prompt reparations for victims of human rights violations and urged the World Bank to prevent further forced evictions.
Amidst these allegations, it is important to note that similar abuses have been reported in other regions of Tanzania, with groups like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch accusing the government of forcibly displacing thousands of Tanzanians from the Maasai ethnic group in the northern Ngorongoro region for the development of a game reserve.
The government has denied these allegations in the past. — BBC
