TANZANIA: Anti-gay crackdown in Dar es Salaam

A Tanzanian governor has announced the creation of a surveillance squad dedicated to hunting down gay people. Paul Makonda, governor of the economic capital Dar es Salaam, told reporters round-ups would begin next week. The team will scrutinise social media in order to track down and arrest people in same sex couples, he added. Homosexual […]

A Tanzanian governor has announced the creation of a surveillance squad dedicated to hunting down gay people.

Paul Makonda, governor of the economic capital Dar es Salaam, told reporters round-ups would begin next week.

The team will scrutinise social media in order to track down and arrest people in same sex couples, he added.

Homosexual acts are illegal in Tanzania.

Mr Makonda – a staunch ally of the president – said he expected international criticism for the move, but added: “I prefer to anger those countries than to anger God.”

“Give me their names,” Mr Makonda was quoted as saying by AFP news agency. “My ad hoc team will begin to get their hands on them next Monday.”