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Govt evasive on Balali `resignation`
2007-12-22 08:40:58
By Michael Haonga
Senior government officials said yesterday they had no information on the reported resignation of the Bank of Tanzania Governor, Daudi Balali.
However, impeccable sources contacted by The Guardian revealed that the BoT governor has indeed written a letter of resignation.
``We have just read about the alleged resignation of the governor through the press,`` said the State House Director of Information, Salva Rweyemanu, in a telephone interview.
He added: ``If there is a letter to that effect, then its existence will be known later because the President is on leave,`` said Rweyemamu.
Leakage of Balali`s resignation was yesterday backed up by details of a copy of a letter alleged to have been written to President Jakaya Kikwete, citing reasons for his resignation as having undergone a major operation at a Boston Hospital in the U.S where he has been admitted for ``over three months.``
Minister for Finance Zakia Meghji said in a separate interview that the news were ``a mere rumour,`` saying that she had not received any official information that Balalli had written or tendered a resignation letter.
``I have not received any letter or official information concerning Balali`s resignation. I have learnt about the reports from newspapers just this morning,`` she said, adding:
``From what I know, the Governor has been sick for a while. These are mere rumours. And if he was to resign, he would have written a resignation letter and tendered it to the government.``
``So far, we have not received such letter,`` stressed Meghji.
A source within the BoT’s Communication Department categorically downplayed the reports, also saying that the office had only heard the news from the media.
According to the official, the BoT circles were completely in the dark about the issue.
News on Balali`s alleged resignation comes amid calls from the opposition and members of public that the state should release findings of the audit report on alleged misuse of BoT funds, which was compiled by a foreign audit firm, Ernst & Young.
The report essentially revolves around issues concerning alleged dubious transactions made by the BoT through the bank’s External Payment Arrears (EPA) account.
The report is understood to be in the hands of the Controller and Auditor General (CAG).
The audit firm completed its work within 28 days.
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