City considering publishing names of all married men ‘to protect single women’

'Many women from Dar-es-Salaam region have been deceived many times, and they have had enough,' commissioner says

Paul Makonda is a fervent Christian and loyal ally of President John Magufuli (Getty Images)

The local government of Tanzania’s biggest city is considering publishing the identities of all married men there in a bid to protect single women from “unnecessary heartbreaks”.

The plan, floated by Dar-es-Salaam's regional commissioner Paul Makonda, would allow women to search an online, state-run public database featuring the name and photo of all the region’s married men.

Mr Makonda said he had received complaints from women who were promised marriage by men who then failed to follow up on the proposal, according to Tanzanian news outlet The Citizen.

“I have received a lot of complaints from young women. Many women from Dar-es-Salaam region have been deceived many times, and they have had enough,” he said on Monday.

“These charming men have been promising to marry them, then ditch the women after using them. This is something that is humiliating.

“These cunning men have left many women nursing heartbreaks and emotional bruises. You’ll find a young man successfully wooing a woman, making her leave every other thing that she does and follows you, hoping that the man will marry her only to realise he is just using her.”

Mr Makonda said the database would include men in Christian, Muslim and customary marriages.

The Citizen reported some men were upset over the plans, as there was no suggestion those taken advantage of by married women would have access to a comparable service.