Yesterday I was visited by Dr. Pierre Somse, UNAIDS Deputy Director for Eastern and Southern Africa. We had a long meeting. Among other things, he was keen to learn my position regarding speculations among the donor countries as well as the international community that Tanzania is ‘harassing and discriminating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) people’, and that we are ‘banning HIV/AIDS programmes targeting HIV/AIDS interventions on these people and we are de-registering all NGOs with interventions on LGBTI’. He reported that there is an environment of fear and uncertainty in the HIV/AIDS programming work.

He said these speculations followed an intervention by our Minister where ‘she ordered no more distribution of lubricants until further notice’ and my visit to an NGO named CHESA which was purportedly accused of carrying out programmes on LGBTI and that ‘I ordered arrest of their officials etc.’

I responded as: 

1. Tanzania is a country built on the strong foundation of respect for human rights, dignity, personal freedom, democracy and rule of law. 
2. The Tanzanian government recognizes, respects and highly regards efforts and support by various stakeholders, including international NGOs, donor countries, local NGOs and the general community, in the HIV/AIDS response.
3. Tanzania upholds professionalism and has been using best practices emanating from scientifically proven and rigorous research and HIV/AIDS programmes used in the HIV/AIDS response.
4. Tanzania has its own constitution, laws, regulations, guidelines and modes of operation; our country takes very seriously our national values and beliefs, customs and traditions, and we will, always, protect them.
5. Tanzania assures our friends, partners and the donor community of our continued collaboration and my office is open for any dialogue when there is any uncertainty. Let it be known that I operate on an ‘open-door’ policy.   
6. Despite the fact that we have been insisting that the most important of the key and vulnerable populations for us is the ‘adolescent girls and young women group’, I can not deny the presence of LGBTI people in our society, and the risk they pose in fueling the spread of HIV/AIDS in the society, and I understand that is why our Ministry, before even I was appointed to this position, had its own ‘National Guideline for Comprehensive Package of HIV Interventions for Key Populations’, which I am aware that it provided authority for programmes to distribute ‘lubricants’ to LGBT etc. 
7. Let all be aware that, before I came to this office, the government had de-registered NGOs such as ‘Sisi Kwa Sisi’ and banned a number of programmes which violated the requirements of the laws of our land, customs and traditions, with respect to issues around LGBTI people. This task is a continuation of the same as well improve working relationship between the government and partners. 
8. We have information that some NGOs have been implementing programmes ‘in the name of HIV/AIDS response in the LGBTI people’ and went beyond their scope, in fact they have been promoting homosexuality. Some NGOs have been implementing programmes in jurisdictions without LGBTI people; I have vivid complaints by villagers in various areas of Tabora and Shinyanga where some programmes have been distributing ‘lubricants’ and educating them on how to use them! NB: we all know that some of these communities are even skeptical when it comes to taking and or receiving education about  ‘condoms’ and how to use them, what is of ‘lubricants’? We have evidence that some NGOs have been defaulting their mandatory returns; some have been withholding, against the law that registers NGOs, information regarding their various programmes and their various sources of funding. A good example is CHESA, which omitted to provide reports regarding their programmes and donors, and when asked to do so, mis-reported and under-reported – they had funds from JHPIEGO which they received but purposively omitted to report, while JHPIEGO was honest enough as to report the work that they were doing in partnership with CHESA! 
9. Despite the presence of LGBTI people in our country, we do not subscribe to the assertion that ‘there is a gender continuum’, we still recognize the two traditional sexes, i.e. Male and Female, and there is nothing in between or beyond! So any effort to claim otherwise is not allowed in Tanzania. 
10. Tanzania does not allow activist groups carrying out campaigns that promote homosexuality and the assertion that there is a ‘gender continuum’ that must be recognized and protected. 
11. Any ‘act or attempt to commit unnatural offences’ is illegal and severely punished by law (refer Cap 16 of the Laws of Tanzania, The Penal Code, Sect. 154 and 155.)  
12. We, so far, have not de-registered any NGO that carries programmes on LGBTI, we are investigating those which have been reported to have broken the law. The various state organs are working on the matter keenly and closely. If there will be found any violation of the laws, customs and traditions, appropriate actions shall be taken in accordance to the laws and regulations of our country. 
13. Our technical team is looking into the technical aspects of carrying out implementation of programmes using the ‘public health approach’ without breaking the laws, regulations, customs and traditions. The government will publicize its way forward when consensus is reached regarding our position and approach on LGBTI programming. 

Meanwhile, 

(i) I demand the team that is carrying out the ‘Mapping and enumeration study for Intravenous drug users (IDUs), Men having sex with men (MSMs) and female sex workers (FSWs)’ to never share their findings with any one within or outside the country, without permission of the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children. 
(ii) We will collaborate with the Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS), - the Civil Society Desk, in embarking on a vetting task for NGOs and enlist credible NGOs in their website as well as our website. We further advise international NGOs and partners interested to work with credible NGOs to contact the government for a letter of clearance so that programmes brought in our country in good faith shall not be tarnished by irresponsible and unprofessional people carrying out illegal activities.
(iii) The government shall use its machinery to properly vet all NGOs in terms of programme activities, funding sources and other motives.
(iv) The government requires all NGOs working with our Regional Secretariats and Local Government Authorities to revisit our national guidelines on how to work in partnership with these authorities, where they would be reminded of community entry/exit steps, community mobilization strategies, procedures for behavior change communications, procedures for supportive supervisions, requirements of sharing their implementation plans, research results, progress reports and summative programme reports. 
(v) Whenever you are not sure if you have crossed the line, visit the office of the Director of NGOs at the Ministry for clarity and guidance. 

By

Dr. Hamisi Kigwangalla, MP.
Deputy Minister – Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children.

Michuzi Blog

Tanzanian blog operating since 2005, covering International news and Local News, including Politics, Fashion, Social Scenes, Interviews, Movies, Events, personalities and anything positive happening worldwide. Written in Swahili and English targeting both Swahili and English readers.

Toa Maoni Yako:

Kuna Maoni 8 mpaka sasa

  1. There are behaviors and weird orientations that are tolerated in western countries which I agree with most Tanzanians, that, our values cannot embrace nor find a place in our moral fabric. Targeting and prioritizing programs of young people (heterosexual)from HIV/AIDs and other STIs should be more of a priority for Tanzania.

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  2. Methadone clinics zote ukiangalia dodoso zao zina hayo maswali ya MSMs na mengineyo na wanaofadhili hiyo program ni universities za Marekani(Texas, Yale, etc). Pia data zote wanachukua sasa ungeanzia hapo mkuu.Hao wamarekani wana data nyingi sana na wanaingia huko kwa njia ya research na misaada. Muda umefika wa kuachana na hii misaada ya namna hii.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Bora wangekamatwa hao lgbt kuliko vijana wa whatsapp.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Mbona kuna kujikanyaga sana hapa. Kwanza anaongelea msimamo wake. Je ni wake ama wa Wizara, yaani Serikali. Kwa ajili ya coherence na consistency nadhani ungekuwa msimamo wa Wizara. Mkuu ajitoe u mimi.

    Pili, anakubali kwamba LGBTI wapo miongoni mwa jamii yetu. Ukikubali hilo unakuwa mpumbavu kukataa kwamba huwezi kuwalenga katika kutafuta ufumbuzi wa matatizo ambayo yanawahusu nao kama sehemu ya jamii. Ukweli wapo na wengi tu. Neno mashoga, wasenge nk halikuletwa na wazungu. Sana sana limeletwa na Waarabu ambao ndio wameeneza tabia hiyo hasa pwani na visiwani.

    Tatu, unaposema matokeo ya utafiti yasishikishe watu wengine isipokuwa serikali tu unakumbusha siku za ukomunisti. Utafiti ni sayansi. Kwanini wahofia matokeo yake? Yaache yasambazwe na mwenye data tofauti naye apate fursa ya kujieleza. Hivyo ndio jinsi ya kuupata ukweli.

    Nne,nakubali. Tunazo sheria zetu ambazo zinapinga ushoga. Hazina budi kuheshimiwa. Jamii yetu haijafika huko jamii za wazungu zilipofika kuukubali ushoga kwa wazi hata kama upo miongoni mwa jamii yatu. Hata hao Wamarekani ni Serikali ya hivi sasa tu. Mtizamo na sera ya Republicans wanapinga. Hivyo watuache nasi hadi hapo jamii itakapoelewa na kutoa nafasi hiyo. Vinginevyo sheria zetu zipo lakini wangapi wamefungwa? Hebu wasitusukume wakati hatupo tayari.

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  5. "I demand the team that is carrying out the 'Mapping and enumeration study for Intravenous drug users (IDUs), Men having sex with men(MSMs)and female sex workers (FSWs) to never share their finding with anyone within and outside the country without permission of the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children'

    What are your fears? What are u trying to hide? The benefit of science and research is that it liberates you. Why would we want to be bounded in fear and ignorance?

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  6. In legal books these are defined as unnatural acts punishable by law. In some countries the victims of these acts have come out to make unanimous calls and to expose the wickedness in their societies. Recent reports include criminal elements abusing them in various places, families, children homes, jails, bullying in some boarding schools, abusers of authority in work places, in religious areas, and the community. This exposure can expose the wickedness and seal the loopholes of those who take advantage of others to initiate, prey in darkness and secret behaviors.

    ReplyDelete
  7. anon huyu mbona haeleweki

    "In legal books these are defined as unnatural acts punishable by law. In some countries the victims of these acts have come out to make unanimous calls and to expose the wickedness in their societies. Recent reports include criminal elements abusing them in various places, families, children homes, jails, bullying in some boarding schools, abusers of authority in work places, in religious areas, and the community. This exposure can expose the wickedness and seal the loopholes of those who take advantage of others to initiate, prey in darkness and secret behaviors.

    September 08, 2016"

    He would have been far better making his point in Swahili. Maimuna wengi kweli nchi yetu jamani!! Du!!

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  8. If you don't have people in your circles, you can always do your own research and search for one on your own. The only thing you need to do is to log online and then the rest should be easy. The nice thing about doing your own research is that you can consider different sources. diabetes juice

    ReplyDelete

Hii ni Blog ya Watanzania popote walipo duniani kwa ajili ya kuhabarisha, kutoa/kupokea taarifa na kuelimisha mambo yote yaliyo chanya kwa Taifa letu. Tafadhali sana unapotoa maoni usichafue hali ya hewa wala usijeruhi hisia za mtu/watu. Kuwa mstaarabu...