Zimbabwe govt buys top of the range vehicles for ministers

CIVIL servants' representatives yesterday argued that Government has capacity to increase their salaries following reports that it bought 130 top-of-the-range vehicles for Cabinet Ministers, their deputies and other senior officials for about US$10 million.

This comes at a time when Finance Minister insists Government is broke and cannot afford to award civil servants a salary increase.

The correspondent is reliably informed that the Minister of Finance recently approved the purchase of 40, 2110 Limited Edition Jeep Grand Cherokees for Cabinet ministers, 40 Land Cruisers V8 SUVs for deputy ministers and 50 Prados for Permanent Secretaries.

Civil service unions yesterday said Government was not being sincere with its workers.

Zimbabwe Teachers Association chief executive Mr Sifiso Ndlovu said Government had the capacity to increase their salaries, adding that it was setting its priorities wrong.

"We received information about these Grand Cherokees from our sources in Government and this is why we have maintained that Government has the capacity to review our salaries.

"No one can fool us now saying this economy is not performing," said Mr Ndlovu.

He said the Government had promised to review salaries in the Mid Term Budget Review.

Public Service Association chief executive Mr Emmanuel Tichareva added: "This information will not augur well with our members who were expecting something in June.

"It shows that Government is not concerned with the plight of its workers."

He, however, said they would continue to engage Government over the issue.

In an interview, Minister Biti said the Government had no money to afford such luxuries.

However, he was quick to refer the matter to CMED Pvt Ltd saying it was the responsible for providing Government with vehicles.

"The Ministry of Finance has not bought cars for anyone. CMED Pvt Ltd is the institution that provides vehicles to Government.

"Whether they have done so or not I don't know ask the Minister of Transport, (Communication and Infrastructural Development)," he said.

Efforts to get a comment from Transport, Communication and Infrastructural Development Minister Nicholas Goche were fruitless.

His Secretary Mr Patson Mbiriri was said to be out of the country.

A minister, who declined to be named, yesterday confirmed some ministers and deputies across the political divide took delivery of their new vehicles.

"Why do you ask me, yet I am a beneficiary? What do you expect from me? Yes, I am driving one of those vehicles right now. We see them (ministers from other parties in the Inclusive Government) driving the new cars," he said.

Ministers and other top Government officials, just like executives in the private sector, are periodically bought news cars and offered to buy the old ones at book value.

Because of financial constraints, Government has to stagger the purchase of the cars.

It is understood that the Grand Cherokees were bought at an average price of US$120 000 while the V8 Land cruisers saw Government forking out US$90 000 for each vehicle.

"Cabinet Ministers and other senior Government officials have received new service vehicles. Ministers got Jeep Grand Cherokees while deputy ministers and permanent secretaries received V8 Land Cruisers and Prados respectively.

"What is interesting is that the vehicles were bought at a time when some Government officials are vehemently refusing even a 10 percent salary increase for civil servants," said a Government source.