The revelation was made yesterday by the learning institution and confirmed by the government amid disagreement between the two which had led to the tenant being given 14 days to vacate the premises.
Speaking to this paper yesterday, IMTU corporate affairs manager, Mateus Diniz said the institution leased the premises for a rent of 100/- per year from 1996 to 2011 but was assured by the government that upon the expiry of the 15-year period, the contract would be extended for another 25 years based on the same rate, bringing the number to 40 years.
“We wrote to the government in 2000 reminding them of their promise but they went ahead and changed the terms of the lease without involving us,” he complained in response to why the institution had defaulted on the new rent rates since 2011.The property on Plot number 2348, Block H located in Mbezi Beach in the outskirts of Dar es Salaam, referred to in the 1996 lease agreement as demised premises, belonged to the now defunct state-owned Tanzania Saruji Corporation which was the landlord.
However in 2007, the property was transferred to the National Development Corporation (NDC) by the Presidential Parastatal Sector Reform Commission. Upon the expiry of the initial contract in 2011, NDC as the new landlord, after reviewing the contract, notified the tenant of its decision to increase the rent to 78m/- per month, NDC Corporate Affairs Manager, Abel Ngapemba told this paper yesterday, adding that he also knew of the 2000 IMTU letter.
Unfortunately for IMTU, the lease extension agreement between the institution and Tanzania Saruji Corporation was just ‘a mere assurance’ and therefore not binding because there was no contract signed to that effect, argued Ngapemba.
For the 15 years of the initial contract, IMTU) paid just 1,500/- as rent to the government.
“They have refused to pay the rent in new rates since 2011 therefore we had no choice but to serve them with an eviction order,” he added.
But according to Diniz, the institution has been hesitant to pay the new ‘very high’ rates because, apart from the extension assurance, as opposed to other businesses, IMTU offers valuable service to the nation by bridging the doctor-patient gap in the country and therefore deserves special treatment.
“We have more than 1,000 students pursuing different courses in medicine. We therefore compliment the government’s duty to train doctors and that is why we should not be treated as a business per se,” he insisted.
“Why is it that they insist on special treatment on government property alone? With such argument, tell them to show you evidence that they also do enjoy special billing treatment from other government entities such as Tanesco,” Ngapemba countered.
According to eviction notice issued to IMTU last week, seen by this paper, the institution had been given 14 days to vacate the premises and settle the outstanding debt in new rates from 2011, amounting to 3bn/-.
“Since then, you have refused, ignored or failed to vacate from the suit premises and refused to pay the outstanding rent of 3,061,680,000/- despite persistent demands requiring you to do so,” reads the notice served by Fosters Auctioneers & General Traders:
“Take note that if you fail to vacate the premises and pay the outstanding arrears within fourteen days from the date hereof, our instruction is to evict you by force without further notice and attach your properties for recovery of unpaid debt.”
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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