via Govt splurges US$20m on ministers’ new cars – The Zimbabwe Independent by Faith Zaba September 20, 2013
ZIMBABWE’s new government has splashed close to US$20 million on luxury cars, including Mercedes Benz and SUVs for 26 cabinet ministers, 13 ministers of state and 24 deputies at a time when more than two million people are reportedly facing starvation.
Investigations by the Zimbabwe Independent showed government bought top of the range Mercedes Benz E350 sedans and Toyota Land Cruisers VX200 for ministers and deputies who yesterday received either a Land Rover Discovery SUV, a Ford Ranger or Toyota Hilux 4×4 double cab each.
While it may be difficult to quantify the exact cost, a survey by the Independent shows that car dealers are selling 2012 models of the Mercedes Benz sedan at around US$130 000 each, Toyota Land Cruiser VX200 at an average US$138 000, Ford Rangers at an average US$55 000 while Toyota Hilux 4×4 double cabs cost between US$55 000 and US$60 000.
A senior minister said: “I received my two cars this week, a Mercedes Benz E350 and a Toyota Land Cruiser VX200.”
A deputy minister confirmed: “I am collecting my own (vehicles) this afternoon (yesterday). I have been told I am getting a Land Rover Discovery and a double cab –– a Ford Ranger or a Toyota 4×4.”
Ministers in the just-ended coalition government took home Mercedes Benzes, Prados, Jeep Cherokees and Range Rovers for paltry amounts such as US$7 000 for two vehicles. In addition to the US$20 million, the government is also expected to fork out close to US$11 million for MPs.
Last year, legislators were allocated US$30 000 each to purchase vehicles and assuming the figure remains the same, government will spend a total of US$10,65 million for the 275 National Assembly members. This will also include the five non-constituency members, and 80 senators.
The delivery of the vehicles comes hard on the heels of a recent report by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) which estimates 2,2 million people –– a quarter of the country’s rural population –– are in need of food aid due to a poor harvest realised in the last cropping season.
The millions being spent on vehicles, plus the civil servants salary rise which government has promised, are expected to further bleed the depleted fiscus.
Civil servants’ salaries were gobbling close to US2,6 billion in 2012, translating to 70% of the government’s total revenue collections.
COMMENTS
THE AFRICAN POLITICIANS AND THEIR INSATIABLE LOVE FOR LUXURIOUS CARS, WHEN THE MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION IS WALLOWING IN ABJECT POVERTY! IN AFRICA YOU GO PARLIAMENT TO MAKE MONEY AND CARS, WHILE IN DEVELOPED WORLD YOU GO THERE TO PROTECT YOUR WEALTH!SHARE THE SPOILS BOYS AND FEW GIRLS! DONT WORRY ABOUT THE POOR!THE POOT WILL ALWAYS BE AMONG YOU!
Its unbelievable! Why do they get two cars? They must use trains and buses like anybody else if they have confidence in our transport system which i doubt. In the developed countries its not surprising to take a hike with a minister or an MP on a train. They are just greedy.Patients in our dilapidated hospitals have no water to drink,drought is raging havoc in the country and nobody seems to care.
there is nothing like hiking with a minister my friend, ministers of state are the face of the nation, whether good or bad, and must be treated as such. give one example of a developed country you have seen a minister boarding a train or a bus, impossible,
Perhaps they should have been set some short term goals with the incentive of receiving perks i..e luxury vehicles. This may have encouraged them to do a bit of work?
The gravy train is still at the station, wait until it departs and start picking up more passengers along the way. We are in for ride comrades. These are the people entrusted with getting the country back to prosperity. Its frustating there is not much we can do to remove this corrupt regime except wait 2018. Targeted sanctions must remain in place until we have real reforms in Zimbabwe. This is a get rich scheme and this is how they reward themselves.
There is somthing that I don’t understand. Most civil servants have their salaries reduced because the government does not have money. However at the other hand we have ministers whose benefits are immune to such a decline in the economy. They all get their cars. Of course they should get cars but the all these millions of dollars just for cars. Imagine if they had bought cars half or three quatre the price of these ones, executive cars like 607’s or some Audis…and for the SUV, a LandCruiser vakomana…with our economy, and if the 10 million saved would have used for something better like Pariremyatwa, UZ…Greedy will always be Greedy…and u tell me a sane person vote for people like these. Please someone tell me if this is what they really voted for and I will know that there are phycopaths in Zimbabwe who can write on the internet…
These are government practices that ruin the economy and not “western sanctions” as claimed by ZanuPF. The Zim Govt has been doing this since 1980. Why do ministers need new cars all the time, as if they do not have some already? People are dying in hospitals, no schools, ….That is the reason why the country is a pariah. Governments that loot, steal elections, mismanage the economy are always characterised by failure to identify national priorities.