Wikipedia

Paul Makonda

Paul Christian Makonda /pɔːl//krɪstjən//məkɒndə/// ⓘ (born 15 February 1982)[1] is the Regional Commissioner of Arusha, Tanzania.[2][3]

Paul Makonda
CCM Spokesperson
Incumbent
Assumed office
22 October 2023
Appointed byChama Cha Mapinduzi
Preceded bySophia Mjema
CCM Secretary for Ideology and Publicity
Incumbent
Assumed office
22 October 2023
Appointed byChama Cha Mapinduzi
Preceded bySophia Mjema
Regional Commissioner of Dar es Salaam
In office
14 March 2016 – 15 July 2020
Appointed byJohn Magufuli
Preceded byMecky Sadick
Succeeded byAbubakar Kunenge
Personal details
Born
Paul Christian Makonda

(1982-02-15) 15 February 1982 (age 42)
Mwanza Region, Tanzania
Political partyChama Cha Mapinduzi
Alma materMoshi Co-operative University
Mzumbe University

Makonda gained popularity during a constitutional amendment referendum, where he was among a few members of a special parliamentary session that was tasked with drafting a new Constitution.[4] He would later become more prominent in politics, first acting as the District Commissioner (DC) for Kinondoni before being appointed Regional Commissioner(RC)of Dar es Salaam by the late President, John Pombe Magufuli, in 2016.[5][6][7][8][9][10]

In 2017, Makonda staged war against the LGBTQ community in Dar es Salaam, an act that was condemned by human rights groups.[11] Despite all this, his political approach was praised by some for its accomplishments such as his crackdown on prostitution activities, tackling the street urchin situation but also initiating a financial aid program to support single and neglected young mothers. [citation needed]

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in Tanzania, Makonda believed the disease had been eradicated through national prayer echoing the rhetoric of the former president despite all evidence suggesting the contrary. [12]

In 2024 Makonda was appointed Regional Commissioner for Arusha region by H.E Samia Suluhu Hassan.

Public designation

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In a press statement issued by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on 31 January 2020,[13][14] Makonda was assigned a public designation and barred from entering the United States due to "his involvement in gross violations of human rights, which include the flagrant denial of the right to life, liberty, or the security of persons".[15] The statement also stated that the US had credible information that Makonda was "implicated in oppression of the political opposition, crackdowns on freedom of expression and association, and the targeting of marginalized individuals".[16][17] The designation also applied to his wife, Mary Felix Massenge.[18][19]

References

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  1. ^ "Makonda: The self-made man many love to hate". 28 July 2020.
  2. ^ "Makonda: Hakuna tishio Dar es Salaam". 2019-06-20. Retrieved 2019-06-23.
  3. ^ "Makonda speaks out for first as CCM publicity secretary - Daily News". 2023-10-26. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
  4. ^ "Makonda: Right man, wrong circumstances?". The Citizen. 2023-10-28. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
  5. ^ AfricaNews (23 February 2017). "Tanzania: Top names listed in drug trafficking racket".
  6. ^ "Tanzania to publish 'list of gay people' - The Herald".
  7. ^ "Polisi Tanzania wazuiwa kumkamata Mbowe". BBC News Swahili. 21 February 2017.
  8. ^ "Mahakama Kuu Tanzania yatoa amri ya muda Mbowe asikamatwe".
  9. ^ "M M T/ J2.06.02.2017_ Interview Drug Dealers in Tanzania-Paul Makonda - MP3-Stereo – DW – 07.02.2017". dw.com (in Swahili). Retrieved 2024-02-17.
  10. ^ "Makonda's anti-drug war produces outcomes which will haunt him". The Citizen. 2021-04-23. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
  11. ^ "U.S. bans Tanzanian official who launched anti-gay crackdown". Reuters. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  12. ^ "Tanzania Says COVID-19 Defeated With Prayer Despite Fears". Time Magazine. 22 May 2020. Archived from the original on 22 May 2020. flood the streets this weekend to celebrate. "Make all kinds of noise as a sign of thanksgiving to show our God has won against disease and worries of death that were making us suffer"
  13. ^ "Public Designation, Due to Gross Violations of Human Rights, of Paul Christian Makonda of Tanzania". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
  14. ^ Archive (2020-02-01). "Anti-gay African leader barred from United States". Retrieved 2024-02-17.
  15. ^ "What to Know About Tanzania's Anti-LGBT Crackdown". TIME. 2018-11-16. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
  16. ^ Adebayo, Gertrude Kitongo, Bukola (2018-11-05). "Tanzania's LGBT community 'fearing for their lives'". CNN. Retrieved 2024-02-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ Axelrod, Tal (2020-02-01). "State Dept. bans Tanzanian official who led anti-gay crackdown". The Hill. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
  18. ^ "EU recalls ambassador to Tanzania over 'deterioration of human rights' amid anti-gay crackdown". The Independent. 2018-11-06. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
  19. ^ "U.S. bans Tanzanian official who launched anti-gay crackdown". NBC News. 2020-02-04. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
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