Tanzania will not be forced to adopt pro-gay legislation that is “against its laws, culture and regulations”, its foreign affairs minister has said, following Prime Minister David Cameron’s calls to cut aid to anti-gay countries.
Speaking at a press conference, Bernard Membe, the country’s foreign affairs and international cooperation minister, said the country would rather end its ties with Britain than adopt gay rights legislation.
“We cannot be directed by the United Kingdom to do things that are against our set laws, culture and regulations,” he said, as reported by Tanzania-based IPP Media.
“We are not ready to allow any rich nation to give us aid based on unacceptable conditions simply because we are poor.
"If we are denied aid by one country, it will not affect the economic status of this nation and we can do without UK aid...but we are not ready to accept aid on conditions that we legalise homosexuality in this country,” he added.
The comments follow those of John Atta Mills, the President of Ghana, who said he would "never initiate or support any attempts to legalise homosexuality in Ghana". The president's adviser John Nagenda also spoke out, saying he is "tired of these lectures" and of Ghanaian citizens being treated like "children" by David Cameron.