Denmark has announced it will hold back on almost US$10 million of aid funding after a senior government official made negative comments about gay people in the country.

Denmark’s Development Minister Ulla Tornaes did not name the official but said she was “very concerned” by the comments.

Earlier this month the governor of Tanzania’s most populous city Dar es Salaam has ordered police to ‘catch every homosexual, and urged citizens to report LGBTI people to authorities.

Governor Paul Makonda has told media that he “has information about the presence of many homosexuals.”

“If you know of a homosexual, you must report them to a police officer. No one can escape,” Makonda said.

Those convicted of homosexuality can be punished with a thirty year prison term and those suspected of engaging in same sex activity are subjected to anal examinations to determine if they have been sexually active.

The government has described Makonda’s comments as personal opinion rather than government policy.

Earlier this month ten men were arrested on the island of Zanzibar and accused of attending a secret gay wedding.

Denmark is the second largest contributor of foreign aid to Tanzania.

OIP Staff