via Zimbabwe government splurges on new luxury cars February 28, 2014 By Elias Mambo and Owen Gagare Zimbabwe Independent
GOVERNMENT has once again splurged millions of dollars on luxury cars, including Mercedes Benz and SUVs, for 10 Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs and 24 deputy ministers at a time when the country is experiencing a serious liquidity crunch and Treasury is broke.
Zimbabwe is also grappling food shortages, with more than two million people reportedly in need of food aid. Service delivery remains poor or non-existent, while schools and hospitals as well as other public facilities are severely underfunded.
Investigations by the Zimbabwe Independent show government bought Mercedes Benz E350 sedans, Toyota Land Cruisers and Range Rover Sport vehicles for provincial ministers and deputy ministers earlier this month.
“The Mercedes Benz E350 sedans were distributed to provincial state ministers while the Range Rovers and the Toyota Land Cruisers were allocated to the deputy ministers. The deputy ministers will also be given their luxury sedans soon,” said a highly-placed official source.
Checks by the Independent showed car dealers were selling the Range Rover Sport for between US$130 000 and $160 000, depending on specifications while 2012 models of the Mercedes Benz sedan were going for around US$130 000 each.
A Toyota Land Cruiser VX200 is selling at an average price of US$138 000.
President Robert Mugabe’s birthday bash at Rudhaka stadium in Marondera last Sunday provided an opportunity for both deputy ministers and provincial affairs ministers to showcase their spanking new acquisitions as the small farming town was invaded by VIPs driving top-of-the-range vehicles some of which were still to be registered.
Among the unregistered vehicles were Ford Rangers T6 3.2 Ltd 4×4 and double cab (automatic). The vehicles are being sold for between $55 000 and $60 000 on the market.
In a move which further shows government’s skewed priorities and insensitive abuse of public funds, the latest expenditure comes after Treasury has already spent a fortune to acquire new vehicles for the 26 cabinet ministers and top civil servants.Government is struggling to pay civil servants even though the wage bill chews up to 70% of its revenues. Soon after winning the elections, the government also bought new vehicles for security sector bosses in what was seen as a thank you gesture for the role they played in the polls. Police officers from the rank of Senior Assistant Commissioner were allocated double cab Ford Rangers.
While government continues to splash out on vehicles, thereby maintaining the luxurious lifestyles of the chefs who live beyond their means, ordinary Zimbabweans, including civil servants, are finding life difficult to cope in the prevailing harsh economic climate.
Government has failed to fund a substantial increase in civil servants salaries since dollarisation in 2009 despite repeated calls for poverty datum line-related pays. Company closures and resultant job losses have become the order of the day.
COMMENTS
Just waiting for the pro-government commentators to contribute to this article after all they think the current government can do no wrong.
It would be surprising if they did manage to control themselves. What a useless bunch
THE patronage system, you have to keep feeding them from the proceeds of corruption, for how long will the centre hold. Mugabe knows by the time it collapses he will be dead. The zanoid that takes over is in deep trouble . there will be nothing left to bribe anybody.
A good example is the MDC, Tsvangirai cannot keep it together because the future prospects for the disciples is zilch . All the fighting for the past 15 years and nothing to show for it. Its going to be happening in Zanu. The cake is getting smaller.
THE AFRICAN AND HIS LOVE FOR CARS AS STATUS SYMBOL! INSTIABLE
Who cares! They are not touched by the plight of the poor people
Oi Chinamasa I hear you are desperate to find money. Forget the banks .It’s all hiddden in your corrupt Government’s dirty smelly pants. Search in there.
thieves
So they were waiting for Britain to pay fees for the disadvantaged so they could spoil themselves with cars? Shame on them.
Britain must now see for themselves why it is a waste of money to give this government money for anything.They lie they cannot afford school fees when all they want is to buy luxury cars. Zunde is coming sooner than later.
COLONIALIST, IMPERIALIST SANCTIONS MONEY, NO THANKS. THEY CAN KEEP IT! THE POOR MUST BE KEPT IGNORANT AND POORER! HOW MANY OF US CAN AFFORD TO GIVE OUR WEDDING CHILDREN A 1000 DOLLARS!
Once again the Government of Bongo Bongo land proves its corruption and warped priorities with this recent purchase of luxury cars. Pity no-one can drive them at more than 15 miles an hour due to the potholes.
They cannot help themselves. Don’t they realise that in this environment a smart car is just POOR TASTE! They are rotten, rotten, rotten to the core.
Not only new cars! a whole fleet of new riot control vehicles too!
And this is what, ” The Monkey Commander in Chief of the EFF ” wants for South Africa. Stupid Barstard.
Cars with potholed roads.Dumb thinking.It should be good roads then cars.
You voted for what you deserve, classic African democracy
5 million dollars for a wedding and who knows how much for all these cars.
Save the children need 18 dollars a month to feed children.
That means nearly 300000 kids could have been fed for one month. Give this hard facts to the people who prop up Mugabe. If anyone and I mean anyone validate Mugabe’s abuse of power after that fact then when the revolution does start you better run fast.