Tanzania, Zanzibar, and other East African states have said they will not accept overtures from United Kingdom to grant legal rights to homosexuality.

Zanzibar President Ali Mohammed Shein on Thursday said his government will not abide by demands from Britain to introduce laws to protect members of the gay community.

"That is an issue not acceptable in this society and we are not going to amend or introduce any laws to grant such rights," Shein told journalists.

The Zanzibar President spoke on a day that Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Mr Bernard Membe and his Gender, Children and Community Development counterpart, Ms Sophia Simba, spoke strongly against the UK's push for the common wealth to officially embrace gays.

Like Dr Shein, the two ministers said Tanzania will not yield or succumb to pressure of any kind following UK Prime Minister David Cameron's threats to cut development aid to countries that did not recognise gay rights.

"Changing the law simply because we need aid is next to impossible. We have our values. That is not acceptable; we would rather do without it," declared Dr Shein.

The Zanzibar President was speaking at a meeting in State House during a wide ranging interview during which he gave an overview of his administration's performance in the one year of Zanzibar's Government of National Unity.

In Dar es Salaam, Mr Membe, said Tanzania will not listen to any country that tried to influence its decisions regarding whether to accept the unnatural sex relations.

"We have our own culture and it should be known and understood that we shall not receive any command from anywhere using whatever sanctions to undermine our way of living. UK should understand this," the minister said at a press conference in his office.

It was the first major statement by the State following recent remarks attributed to Mr Cameron, who was quoted as threatening aid cuts to countries that continue to ban the practice which has taken root mainly in the western world. The UK position was raised informally during the recent meeting of the Commonwealth Heads of State in Perth, Australia. President Jakaya Kikwete and Mr Membe represented Tanzania.

On Wednesday, Mr Membe termed as "dangerous," the move by UK to tie aid to the gay issue.

UK's Queen Elizabeth II is the custodian of common wealth club comprising 54 states that were formally colonised by Britain. It was reported that during the Perth meeting, only 13 countries were receptive of the Cameron advances.

Kenya and Uganda have also voiced opposition on the same matter. Officials in these countries said they would rather miss aid than approve gay movement.

My opinion is simple. If these countries bend then Africa really has no hope in this mordern world.

They can go and f.uck themselves!!

Mad people.

Desola: They can go and f.uck themselves!!

my thoughts exactly, but we all know money talks and these european countries still don't have much respect 4 d african ones.

drnoel:

my thoughts exactly, but we all know money talks and these european countries still don't have much respect 4 d african ones.

then, its perhaps high time that Africans stand true to who and what they are and let the world know that tradition and culture are at our core and that we would not be dictated to. We are spiritual kind and this european sodomy way of life is not akin to us. We have been subjugated for far too long. Our resources have been raped, our people taken into slavery and we are continually being killed just for the colour of our skin and now they want to dictate how we should lead our lives? Posterity would not judge us well if we continue to be in servitude to these white demons. Something must give and we all must rise against this dictatorship. How long are we gonna continue to be the dustbin of the world?

They can shove their aid up their ass.very soon africans won't do bussiness with morally decayed countries cos we have all the natural resourses.shio
t

karl max: They can shove their aid up their ass.very soon africans won't do bussiness with morally decayed countries cos we have all the natural resourses.shio
t

can't agree more

karl max: They can shove their aid up their ass.very soon africans won't do bussiness with morally decayed countries cos we have all the natural resourses.shio
t

Exactly!

Desola:

then, its perhaps high time that Africans stand true to who and what they are and let the world know that tradition and culture are at our core and that we would not be dictated to. We are spiritual kind and this european sodomy way of life is not akin to us. We have been subjugated for far too long. Our resources have been raped, our people taken into slavery and we are continually being killed just for the colour of our skin and now they want to dictate how we should lead our lives? Posterity would not judge us well if we continue to be in servitude to these white demons. Something must give and we all must rise against this dictatorship. How long are we gonna continue to be the dustbin of the world?

Well said.

dasparrow:

Exactly!



Well said.

come u be oooh yes minister? Abeg give ur own comments jor.

Am a supporter of gay rights,but am not in support of racist countries giving us command on what to do and what not to do, gay right is something that will come naturally when we have more rational africans that think more about their economic welfare and not who is bleeping who and stupid morals which we don't even have.

It's a pity that our stupid leaders are making noise over irrelevant things like gay rights,i'd rather see them reject anti africa IMF and world bank policies,thats what i want them to be shouting about,but sadly,we won't see them shout and reject that,they would swallow them hook line and sinker,and then make noise about irrelvant things and ignorant africans would applaud them,nonsense.

How does this man rejecting gay rights affect the living standard of a market woman in tanzania?

Desola:

then, its perhaps high time that Africans stand true to who and what they are and let the world know that tradition and culture are at our core and that we would not be dictated to. We are spiritual kind and this european sodomy way of life is not akin to us. We have been subjugated for far too long. Our resources have been raped, our people taken into slavery and we are continually being killed just for the colour of our skin and now they want to dictate how we should lead our lives? Posterity would not judge us well if we continue to be in servitude to these white demons. Something must give and we all must rise against this dictatorship. How long are we gonna continue to be the dustbin of the world?

What tradition and culture are you talking about, the ones you threw away?

You guys labelled the old ways evil and continue to do so through nollywood, you burnt down the shrines and replaced them with mosques and churches. So hypocrites,what tradition and culture are you talking about again?

What exactly do you mean by you guys are spiritual?Because if being spiritual has anything to do with corruption in the high places,embezlement of public funds,wicked tyrants and sit tight leaders that don't give a damn about the suffering masses,etc...,then i have to agree that we are spiritual.

pazienza: What tradition and culture are you talking about, the ones you threw away?

You guys labelled the old ways evil and continue to do so through nollywood, you burnt down the shrines and replaced them with mosques and churches. So hypocrites,what tradition and culture are you talking about again?

What exactly do you mean by you guys are spiritual?Because if being spiritual has anything to do with corruption in the high places,embezlement of public funds,wicked tyrants and sit tight leaders that don't give a damn about the suffering masses,etc...,then i have to agree that we are spiritual.

Thank you. Nigerians only remember how holy, virtuous, and moral they are when homosexuality is up for discussion. It doesn't shame Nigerians that their useless politicians united only one time, and that was to make same sex marriage illegal, which affected a very small minority of the population. Any other thing like anti-corruption, justice, peace, adequate services and resources that affects everyone? There's no consensus.

Take and eat your Aids, things are not even getting better with your aids, so it is better we don't get aid at all.

There is confidence when you stand on your own.

OYINBOGOJU: Take and eat your Aids, things are not even getting better with your aids, so it is better we don't get aid at all.

There is confidence when you stand on your own.

Is it only homosexuals that contract AIDS?

ogugua88:

Is it only homosexuals that contract AIDS?

hehehe not AIDS, what we mean here is aids meaning help.

OYINBOGOJU: hehehe not AIDS, what we mean here is aids meaning help.

"aid" then, not "Aids" lol. Difference dey.

ogugua88:

"aid" then, not "Aids" lol. Difference dey.

Thanks.......... typography error

hahahha

the blame has to go somewhere........my bad

I think the headline is highly misleading. It is crafted to whip up emotions and sentiments as nigerians like to present themselves as the moral crusader of the world while being the opposite in deeds. The british govenment never advocated for legalization of homosexuality, what they frown at is CRIMINALIZATION of homosexuality which a lot of African countries have done.

Another misconception is when people say homosexuality is criminalized in Nigeria, that is a lie, what was criminalized in Nigeria is GAY MARRIAGE and not homosexualism itself, which I support. I feel marriage should be between opposite séx.

Intolerance/criminalization. Targeting homosexuals and committing acts of violence, prejudice, and discrimination should be illegal. Homosexuality should not be illegal.

This is an old issue by the way. It happened nearly one year ago.

karl max: They can shove their aid up their ass.very soon africans won't do bussiness with morally decayed countries cos we have all the natural resourses.shio
t

I think that description fits Nigeria more aptly. We are perhaps the most religious Nation on Earth yet look at Nigeria - a cauldron of sheer wickedness and evil. Running around, bashing holy books, and pretending to be paragons of virtue may mean we get away with fooling ourselves but the rest of the world just see extremely wicked and inhumanely callous people. We are talking of a Nation where politicians routinely loot every kobo and are then happy to exist in garish opulence while kids die of poverty and easily cured ailments.

Western Nations, haven learnt lesson from their own difficult past, are simply trying to protect the human rights of others consistently because they are working with the principle that all discrimination is bad. Every human being must be protected!!!!!!! As a people who have suffered and still suffer severe discrimination we should be careful not to become what others are. It was not too long ago black folks were being lynched publicly because some saw them as vile, offensive animals. Should others now stand back and watch Africans lynch and disenfranchise gays and lesbians?

Homosexuality is a curse from the pit of hell. Any true bible reading and believing fellow will not conceive nor engage in such abomination. I wonder why people are scared of speaking up against evil....."whatever is born of God does not commit sin,His seed abideth in him and because it abideth in him,he cannot sin" those are not my words....Christians should never be found watering down on their hard stance on homosexuality. I will never back down from calling it capital EVIL.

Mandelaguy: Homosexuality is a curse from the pit of hell. Any true bible reading and believing fellow will not conceive nor engage in such abomination. I wonder why people are scared of speaking up against evil....."whatever is born of God does not commit sin,His seed abideth in him and because it abideth in him,he cannot sin" those are not my words....Christians should never be found watering down on their hard stance on homosexuality. I will never back down from calling it capital EVIL.

There is nothing wrong in being gay or homo.sex.ual as long as you don't force others to adopt same orientation. Have you been to hell before? You seem to know more about it.

bayooooooo:

There is nothing wrong in being gay or homo.sex.ual as long as you don't force others to adopt same orientation. Have you been to hell before? You seem to know more about it.

There is everything wrong with being gay. It is Evil and stinks.....God did not design man that way,man and woman was created and everything that was made was made in pairs.

bayooooooo:

There is nothing wrong in being gay or homo.sex.ual as long as you don't force others to adopt same orientation. Have you been to hell before? You seem to know more about it.

Absolutely. I personally don't think it is my business to judge what other adults do in their bedroom. Nothing killing the world more than various forms of intolerance i.e racial, gender,ethnic, religious etc. An American Ambassador and a few of his staff are now dead because of religious intolerance. Families devastated.

Those who killed the ambassador will submit the same warped justification as those who lynch homosexuals. "What they did was offensive". Where will it end and who is the animal if not those who can't rise above primordial conducts?

Mandelaguy: There is everything wrong with being gay. It is Evil and stinks.....God did not design man that way,man and woman was created and everything that was made was made in pairs.

Look, how about atheists who don't believe in God like , famously, Nick Clegg the UK's deputy PM? How should he perceive issues? Think about it and it will be obvious that when religion is taken out, you don't have much of an argument because issues simply and logically boil down to letting consenting adults do as they please privately in their bedrooms. You only pass judgement based on your specific religion.

Gbawe:

Look, how about atheists who don't believe in God like , famously, Nick Clegg the UK's deputy PM? How should he perceive issues? Think about it and it will be obvious that when religion is taken out, you don't have much of an argument because issues simply and logically boil down to letting consenting adults do as they please privately in their bedrooms. You only pass judgement based on your specific religion.

I cannot get physical on people that engage in activities that distort natural forms of things. Let us call bad bad and stop hiding under the guise of religion,beliefs,and whatever you call it. The natural form if human conjugation is for a man and woman. They should have devised new places to stick their di.cks,instead of in their filthy asses. What do they need holes for? Faggo.ts!

Mandelaguy: I cannot get physical on people that engage in activities that distort natural forms of things. Let us call bad bad and stop hiding under the guise of religion,beliefs,and whatever you call it. The natural form if human conjugation is for a man and woman. They should have devised new places to stick their di.cks,instead of in their filthy asses. What do they need holes for? Faggo.ts!

So how where another man decide to stick his dìck affect you? Whether he decides to cut off his dick, stick it into his own àss or jack off, it is non of your concern. Don't you have other things to expend your mental energy on?
You cannot jugde others by your religious, moral, racial or social prejudices.

wirinet:

So how where another man decide to stick his dìck affect you? Whether he decides to cut off his dick, stick it into his own àss or jack off, it is non of your concern. Don't you have other things to expend your mental energy on?
You cannot jugde others by your religious, moral, racial or social prejudices.

That is your fuc.king business,all of you who tolerate bull.sh.it. I am entitled to my opinion, and no gay British idi.iotic govt or any other govt has the right to per.vert Africa and what she stands for.

Mandelaguy: I cannot get physical on people that engage in activities that distort natural forms of things. Let us call bad bad and stop hiding under the guise of religion,beliefs,and whatever you call it. The natural form if human conjugation is for a man and woman. They should have devised new places to stick their di.cks,instead of in their filthy asses. What do they need holes for? Faggo.ts!

I disapprove of homosexual acts myself simply because it is something I have no interest in and I don't understand why some men simply cannot find women irresistible but , ultimately, I concede that there is nothing wrong with other adults making choices that are different to mine and doing what they wan't in their bedrooms. It is the same with many things and as adults, we must conclude that disapproval must not become intolerance.

I disapprove of a lot of things because of personal preferences (footballers ridiculous wages, for example, while vital science researches are begging for funds) but understand that we must all respect adult choices and not be quick to proclaim something wrong merely because we don't approve of it.

Gbawe:

I disapprove of homosexual acts myself simply because it is something I have no interest in and I don't understand why some men simply cannot find women irresistible but , ultimately, I concede that there is nothing wrong with other adults making choices that are different to mine and doing what they wan't in their bedrooms. It is the same with many things and as adults, we must conclude that disapproval must not become intolerance.

I disapprove of a lot of things because of personal preferences (footballers ridiculous wages, for example, while vital science researches are begging for funds) but understand that we must all respect adult choices and not be quick to proclaim something wrong merely because we don't approve of it.

That is your own judgement. I have passed mine and to undiscerning minds,it doesn't have to be rational.

AU leaders mumu o its easy for us african to run the world if we stand firm on ominous issues.example-:place embargo on core materials they needed to sustain their economy,in this case they will feel threaten and respect us.world decisions shldnt always be the other way round.

amiskurie: AU leaders mumu o its easy for us african to run the world if we stand firm on ominous issues.example-:place embargo on core materials they needed to sustain their economy,in this case they will feel threaten and respect us.world decisions shldnt always be the other way round.

Those people are really a let down. I believe they will bend to britain but only time will tell.