Tanzania is now on the spot because of the recent affirmation of its policy on banning pregnant girls from school.
The World Bank has now scrapped a plan to loan Tanzania $300 million. The Washington-based lender made the decision in October and cited Tanzania’s ban as the reason why.
“The World Bank supports policies that encourage girls’ education and make it possible for young women to stay in school until they reach their full potential,” the Bank said in an e-mailed statement.
“Working with other partners, the World Bank will continue to advocate for girls’ access to education through our dialogue with the Tanzanian government
Tanzanian authorities did not answer calls for comment on Wednesday.
President John Magufuli’s government has been condemned by rights groups and a Western government for what they say is its growing authoritarianism and intolerance of dissent. The government has rejected that criticism.
Tanzania has banned pregnant girls from attending state primary and secondary schools since 1961.
Last month, the World Bank also criticized new Tanzanian legislation which will punish anyone who questions official statistics, saying the law will undermine the production of useful, high-quality data.
At the same time, it also suspended visiting missions to Tanzania, according to an internal note seen by Reuters, after an official in Dar es Salaam threatened to launch a crackdown on homosexuals.
The foreign ministry said the official’s anti-gay campaign represented his own views and not a government position.
