The leader of the women’s wing of the Tanzanian ruling party, Mary Chatanda, has called for the castration of homosexual people. During celebrations to mark the second anniversary of the government of Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the politician said: “We call on the government to punish crimes related to same-sex activities harshly. These people should be castrated if found guilty.”
Chatanda is considered a conservative hardliner. However, she is not the only politician in the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party who has attracted attention with homophobic statements – such as former President John Magufuli, for example. Five years ago, an appeal by a regional official in Dar es Salaam drew global attention after he set up a task force to allegedly test gay men. President Hassan initially did not comment on Chatanda’s statements.
situation in other countries
Homosexual acts are banned in the East African country. Those convicted face several years in prison. The climate for gays and lesbians also worsened in other countries in the region. The Ugandan parliament is currently discussing the reintroduction of an anti-gay law. In early March, Kenya’s President William Ruto criticized a decision by the Kenyan Supreme Court that had strengthened the rights of LGBTQ groups. According to the President, homosexuality has no place in Kenya. The English abbreviation LGBTQ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans people and queer people.
According to Human Rights Watch, the situation of the LGBTQ community in Tanzania had deteriorated massively under Hassan’s predecessor, John Magufuli.
