A tour guide at a Tanzanian game park has been apprehended after falsely translating a tourist's comments about the country and its people.

According to Ceoafrica, in a widely circulated video clip, the guide said in Swahili that the tourist wants Tanzanians to stop "complaining" about hunger, whereas the woman disclosed that Tanzanians are "fabulously wonderful".

The guide was arrested on unspecified charges yesterday on the orders of Tourism Minister, Jumanne Mshembe, in Tanzania which markets itself as The Soul of Africa, and is popular with tourists because of its wildlife and spectacular scenery.

The unnamed guide was from the Serengeti National Park in the north-west.

Although, it remains unclear why he has been arrested and whether he would be charged, but Regional police commander, Philipo Kalangi, said that he was being questioned, but did not give more details.

The minister may have felt that he was mocking the tourist or mimicking President John Magufuli, as some of his words were similar to those used by the president at a rally last month when he called on people to stop complaining about hunger.

In excerpts of the video published by a section of the media, the tourist says:

"Hi. My visit to Tanzania has been beautiful, gorgeous. The people are fabulously wonderful and friendly. Greetings are always jambo [the Swahili equivalent of Hello]. Happy to be here. The land is beautiful, beautiful. The animals are wonderful."

The guide translates this as: "You Tanzanians complain/cry a lot about hunger. Every day you cry about hunger when you have flowers at home. Why don';;t you boil the flowers and drink [them]. It is not good to cry/complain about hunger."

Tourist:

"The variety of animals and people you see is incredible, unlike anywhere else. It is just fabulous."

Guide: "You are asking your president to cook for you. Do you think your president is a cook? Can you get busy, even boil your clothing and eat."

Tourist: "It will be an experience to savour for all of your life. It is fantastic and beautiful and incredible and just unremarkable.

Guide: "Get busy in every corner of the country. The president can';;t leave State House to cook for you. You have to cook for yourselves.