Hii "Posta ya Zamani" ilikuwa anunue nani? Manji tena au?
Mtoto wa Anna Mkapa alishaondoka Simu 2000 Ltd?
Ripoti ya kuanzishwa Simu 2000 Ltd mmeiona?
Dar cancels sale of historical Old Post Office
By FAUSTINE RWAMBALI
The EastAfrican
THE Tanzanian government has cancelled the intended sale of the German-built Old Post Office, one of Dar es Salaam citys best-known historical landmarks.
In addition, the government has ordered that the building revert to the ownership of the Tanzania Posts Corporation (TPC) to preserve it. This has ended a five-year feud between two companies incorporated to pave the way for the privatisation of Tanzania Telecommunications Company Ltd (TTCL).
The two were TTCL and TPC. A third company, Simu 2000 Ltd, was created to dispose of TTCL's assets to pave the way for its privatisation. It has been selling the parastatal's properties since it became operational.
Simu 2000 director of finance and administration Costantine Kalipeni said it has been decided that the Old Post Office be given back to TPC.
He said all that remains is to formalise the transfer process, including government documentation, and to officially gazette it.
The Old Post Office, a late 19th century structure put up during German rule, is situated in the prime seafront city centre district of Dar es Salaam. The building at Plot No.5 Sokoine Drive served as the first German General Post office for the whole of Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. It continued in the same capacity during British rule and for many years after independence. It now houses TPC, TTCL and several private companies.
Following the tug-of-war among the three companies, the parliamentary Committee on Infrastructure intervened, recommending to the parent ministry that the building be given back to TPC.
At the time of divestiture of the former Tanzania Posts & Telecommunications Corporation (TPTC) in 1994, it was decided that its assets be divided between TTCL and TPC on a 7:3 per cent ratio, a decision that was disputed by TPC.
TPC claimed that the 7:3 ratio was unrealistic because it denied TPC some buildings in strategic business locations.
Simu 2000 Ltd was established by an Act of Parliament under the Public Corporations Act, 1992, which came into operation on February 23, 2001. Under the Act, Simu 2000 was incorporated under the Companies Ordinance. All non-core assets, personal assets, liabilities and pending proceedings vested in TTCL were with effect from February 23, 2001 vested in Simu 2000 Ltd.
TTCL assets worth Tsh19.506 billion ($15 million) were to be sold. They ranged from residential houses and office buildings to warehouses and workshops.
The company was given the task of finding the money to pay pensions to over 1,000 ex-EAC staff. At the time Simu 2000 started operations, the outstanding liability for the Non-Contributory Pension Scheme originating from the East African Posts and Telecommunications stood at Tsh8.901 billion ($68.5 million).
According to Mr Kalipeni, by March this year, Simu 2000 had sold core assets worth Tsh15 billion and the EAC ex-staff had been paid pensions amounting to Tsh10.9 billion ($83.8 million).
In March this year, the government formed an eight-man probe committee to investigate the formation of Simu 2000 Ltd. The team is headed by Engineer Augustino Kowero of the Ministry of Infrastructure.
But as of last week, six months after the probe committee started its work, the findings have not been made public.
Source: The East African 9-15 October, 2006