MEMBERS of Parliament and Senators have finally started receiving their USD50 000 vehicle loans from a cash strapped Government and the bill runs to at least USD17,5 million, Zim Morning Post can report.
The Lower and Upper houses are comprised of 350 members therefore the loan payout translates to such a whopping figure.
The Mps were spotted stampeding to buy top of the range vehicles at Faramats Motors in the capital Tuesday.
A visit to Faramats Motors by Zim Morning Post Tuesday morning was met with hordes of legislators who were purchasing and viewing top of the range Toyota Cruisers.
The legislators from across the political divide were helping each other to choose the vehicles with some calling each other with their totems despite the drama and harsh exchange of words they display in Parliament.
They were ‘united’ by mutual benefits of the huge loans.
Political analyst Paradzai Jandara said Zimbabwe legislators are united in issues which concern their welfare and their stomach.
“Our politicians are greedy, they are only united when it is about their own welfare and stomach not on what concerns the ordinary person , our priorities are misplaced as a nation,” Jandara said.
His sentiments were also echoed by National Constitution Assembly President Lovemore Maduku who said the government should have paid the money to Electricity Supply Commision (ESKOM) before splashing money on ‘wants’.
“This move shows hypocrisy , no sensible leader should prioritise luxury cars at the moment this money should have been used to pay the ESKOM debt,” Madhuku said.
Madhuku went on to say that it is shocking that the opposition leaders have accepted the cars.
“These vehicles are not going to benefit constituencies since most legislators do not stay there,these cars are just for luxury, Opposition legislators only complain when they are not eating,” added Madhuku.
However, MDC Chief Whip Prosper Mutseyami refuted claims that the money has been released but defended the fact that legislators should be given vehicles.
“No money has been disbursed to any garage as we speak right now but however I believe that vehicles are tools for work for legislators to do their duties and services in their constituencies,” Mutseyami said.
However, despite his spirited denial, several legislators have confirmed receiving their loan allocations.
Clerk of Parliament Kenneth Chokuda confirmed that the MPs have started receiving their car loans this week in a telephone interview with this publication.
“We have a number of companies that will supply the cars and the loans will be disbursed this week,” Chokuda said.
