Anger at Tanzania jet purchase

Tanzania's aviation facilities are again under scrutiny

The World Bank has asked Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa for an explanation after he ordered a £14m personal jet.

The Tanzanian government is supposed to consult the financial body before any big expenditure, in the framework of its adjustment programme.

The news of the order coincides with the resumption of Britain's aid to Tanzania, suspended a few months ago over the purchase by the Tanzanian authorities of a controversial £28m military air traffic control system.

A BBC correspondent in Dar es Salaam says that for the Tanzanian opposition, this latest move by the government proves that it has not learnt its lessons from the previous controversy.

'Infuriated'

The World Bank is "infuriated" by the news of the order, according to the British newspaper, The Guardian.

Bank officials have asked Tanzania why it is buying a jet for the president when he already has one to take him between the main city, Dar es Salaam, and the new capital, Dodoma.

The president will have to explain himself

But contrary to the World Bank, Britain was aware of the order before it decided to reinstate its £40m annual aid to Tanzania.

A statement issued after recent talks between the British International Development Secretary, Clare Short, and President Mkapa said that Ms Short was told about the proposed purchase of the jet, but was satisfied it was essential for the president to travel around the country, and that she assumed the order had been cleared by the World Bank.

But it turns out it was not the case.

Guarantees

Ms Short is now under pressure to get guarantees that the aid will be spent, as agreed, on health, education and agriculture projects.

The opposition in Britain has criticised the Tanzanian government for ordering the aircraft.

Ms Short knew of the jet order

The Liberal Democrat deputy international development spokesman, Norman Lamb, said he was "extremely concerned" about the proposed purchase.

"Coming so soon after £28m being wasted on a military air traffic control system, this rubs salt into the wound of the people of Tanzania," he is quoted by The Guardian as saying.

In Tanzania itself, the opposition has been equally critical.

Professor Ibrahim Lipumba, the leader of the Civic United Front, has said that the government had repeated the same mistake, that it was still failing to consult the parliament and the people of Tanzania.