So far documents compiled earlier this year by the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication have put the cost of the State House complex in the region of N$500 million.

Some estimates have put it as high as N$550 million.

But Dr Moses Amweelo, Minister of Works, Transport and Communication, told fellow lawmakers in the National Assembly that any figure he might give and any estimates already published were only guesses.

"The capital cost and professional fees will be affected by the properties to be expropriated for safety and security reasons.

Some new buildings, which make up the capital cost, will be replaced, with the buildings to be bought up by the Government.

Such a compensation cost is still to be determined.

It is for this reason that any figure at this stage would be misleading," said Amweelo.

He was responding to a question from Johan de Waal of the DTA-UDF coalition about the cost of the new State House being built in a new suburb on the outskirts of Windhoek.

With the planned expropriation of private houses in Auasblick, the presidential village is set to take up almost the entire suburb.

Amweelo conceded that even the cost of the land was unknown.

Government was negotiating the figure with the Municipality, he said.

The amount of money to be paid to owners of private property Government intends to buy to clear an undisclosed radius around the State House has not been finalised.

This week was the first time that a senior politician has given some lengthy comment about the presidential palace.

However, Amweelo denied that the project was shrouded in secrecy, saying that people should be patient until the matter was finalised.

"Later it will be shown to the public," he said when asked about the design of the State House.

He was unable to say when all the preparations and final costs will be known and publicised.

Amweelo this week told The Namibian that the project should be completed by 2005 - the year President Sam Nujoma's final term in office expire.

Critics believe the building of the State House, which Government has labelled "a priority project", is a sign that Nujoma may run for a fourth term.

Amweelo, who said the present State House was a mere "guest house", told parliament that the planned presidential complex should be viewed as "a national asset" that "will serve generations to come".

He added: "It is not a building for one individual in his/her lifetime".

Amweelo claimed the expensive compound would be "a symbol of prosperity and sovereignty to the nation".

He described his mandate as "to provide a work space for His Excellency, our President, to fulfil his constitutional duties with dignity and efficiency".

The Minister also confirmed that a Chinese company was working with a firm from North Korea "in the design, construction and financing of this project".

China has donated N$55 million towards the cost of the State House.

Amweelo, who was unable to say how many jobs the project would eventually create, said that at present 176 workers were on the site, with 25 per cent - approximately 44 workers - being Namibians.

While Amweelo remarked that the foreign companies were bringing in experts and not people to "pass the bricks on", Koreans were seen last year putting up a fence around the area where the complex is being be built.

Nine Namibian companies have been included as sub-contractors.

On the as yet unknown cost of the construction, De Waal asked how Amweelo would find "a figure to put in the budget when he does not know the figure".

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