20100122
allafrica

Bank of Tanzania (BoT) Governor Benno Ndulu yesterday defended the decision to build two official residences for himself and one of his deputies at a total cost of Sh2.54 billon. The governor's mansion alone cost Sh1.27 billion.

Prof Ndulu, whose Mr Clean image has come under threat recently, following severe criticism from people questioning the huge expense on the house in Dar es Salaam, absolved himself from blame, and also cleared the institution he heads.

He told attentive members of the parliamentary Public Corporations Accounts Committee that the plan to buy the land and put up several houses for the central bank's top officials was above board.

"The planning for the construction started long ago; and not during my short tenure. What is happening has duly been approved by the board of directors," said Prof Ndulu, whose handling of the country's response to the global economic crisis last year won him acclaim from professionals and the business community.

In defending the colossal amount spent on the imposing five-bedroom residence, complete with a heated swimming pool, the BoT chief told the committee chaired by Kigoma North MP Zitto Kabwe that security and other sophisticated features in the house to suit the needs of anyone in his position, had pushed up the cost.

The BoT boss said it was wrong to call the building on Tumbawe road in the affluent Oysterbay area of the city a house. He explained that it was more of a building comprising several living quarters.

He said that other than the fully equipped self-contained five bedrooms, there is a large living and dining rooms with an exterior in-service extension guest wing.

There are also self-contained quarters for his bodyguards and domestic servants.All the quarters are equipped with independent kitchens, toilets and other vital facilities for guests.

Prof Ndulu, who moved into his new residence last December, from a rented house in the plush Masaki suburb, said the Sh40 million swimming pool was still under construction in the compound.

"But the pool is not an issue. I always swam across rivers during my entire childhood and even my personal home has no swimming pool," he said, sending the MPs keenly following his presentation into laughter.

He said he was perturbed that he had been accused of not moving into the house because it lacked a swimming pool.

The BoT chief also explained elaborate security systems installed to protect him and safeguard his working environment. The mansion is fitted with an automatic electric system with a standby generator.

There is central airconditioning and a security system to monitor movement around the property. There is an underground water system and fire sensing alarms.

"I think the governor is a very important person in this country. Therefore, he or she needs that kind of protection. My work is very sensitive and some people will not sleep if I were to be kidnapped," said the governor.

The building's design incorporated a secured data system that enables him to continue working at home even after office hours.

Prof Ndulu said the plots on which his mansion and the one for deputy governor Lila Mkila, are built were bought in 2003. The deputy's house cost Sh2 million more. The costs include design and landscaping and other architectural requirements.

Having official residences, he added, would save the millions of shillings paid for rented premises. Prof Ndulu's monthly rent was $7,000 or Sh10 million and Sh126 million a year.

He told the committee that the cost of the two houses would be recooped in 10 years' time.

The MPs appeared satisfied with the explanations, with former Cabinet minister Antony Diallo, saying he was not surprised the cost was that high. "For those of us in the know, this was not an issue because the cost of land could be as high as Sh500 million,"he said.

The committee later went into closed-door session to scrutinise the bank's other reports, with Mr Kabwe explaining to reporters they were barred by regulations from attending.