via No joy for fired MPs: Parly demands car loan money – NewsDay Zimbabwe March 24, 2016
Parliament is demanding up to $54 000 from about 30 MPs, who were fired by both the MDC-T and Zanu PF, as the House seeks to recover the over $800 000 advanced to them under the vehicle loan scheme, NewsDay has established.
BY XOLISANI NCUBE
The Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC-T fired 21 MPs, who defected to Tendai Biti’s then Renewal Team, while Zanu PF sacked a number of its legislators on allegations of working with former Vice-President Joice Mujuru in a bid to oust President Robert Mugabe.
But Parliament now wants the fired MPs to pay back the loans they were advanced to buy their top-of-the range vehicles.
Clerk of Parliament, Kennedy Chokuda told NewsDay that the money was advanced to Parliament by a local financial institution.
We are saying to them, they must come forward and table a payment plan on how they want to liquidate the debt. A bank helped us get the vehicles for them. We want them to pay because they are no longer MPs, so there is no way we are going to recover our money,” he said.
Parliament in 2014 negotiated for a vehicle loan scheme for MPs, who each received varying amounts, which were to be deducted from their sitting allowances over a five-year period.
The vehicles were exempted from paying duty.
Chokuda says the fired MPs were now expected to pay the initially waivered duty on top of their loan arrears.
“It’s true, we have written to them demanding that they pay the balances of the vehicle loan plus duty calculated by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority. The amount differs depending on each member’s circumstances,” he said.
The expelled MPs benefited from a $12 million deal government secured with Croco Motors that saw the 290 legislators purchasing all-terrain vehicles at a ceiling price of $35 000 per lawmaker.
Parliament – through Treasury – undertook to pay Croco Motors over eight months, while the legislators would repay through deductions from their sitting allowances.
According to one MP, Parliament was now demanding in excess of the advanced amount, as this includes duty with some legislators being asked to pay as much as $54 000.
Moses Manyengavana, the ex-MP for Highfield West, confirmed Parliament had written to the former legislators asking them to settle the vehicle loans.
“Yes, it’s true the letters have been sent to former MPs. I have not seen mine, but I gather my fellow comrades have received theirs. I can’t talk to you about how this will be handled, it’s a private issue for me, Parliament and the party, People’s Democratic Party,” he said.
Among the MPs fired by MDC-T include Biti (Harare East), Willias Madzimure (Kambuzuma), Lucia Matibenga (Kuwadzana East), Paul Madzore (Glen View), Reggie Moyo (Luveve), Solomon Madzore (Dzivaresekwa), Bekithemba Nyathi (Mpopoma-Pelandaba), Albert Mhlanga (Pumula), Manyengavana (Highfield West), Samuel Sipepa Nkomo (Lobengula), Roseline Nkomo (Tsholotsho North), Settlement Chikwinya (Mbizo), Gorden Moyo (Makokoba) and Arnold Tsunga (Chikanga-Dangamvura).
Zanu PF also fired the likes of David Butau (Mbire) and Didymus Mutasa (Headlands).
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