World Bank acts on abuse claims in Tanzania park project

The World Bank has given Tanzanian authorities until late December to settle complaints of civil rights violations tied to a $150 million natural resources project that the bank is funding before it launches a formal investigation into the matter.

The Bank’s board on November 15 gave the green light for the probe into the Resilient Natural Resource Management for Tourism and Growth (Regrow) Project in Southern Tanzania to go ahead on the basis of a request filed by two unnamed Tanzanian nationals.

It gave the Tanzania government 30 business days, ending December 27, to accept an option for dispute resolution with the complainants offered by the Bank via its Accountability Mechanism department before going further.