In the next two weeks, legislators are expected to take
delivery of new vehicles under the Parliamentary vehicle loan scheme amid
reports that some of the lawmakers have been using public transport to carry
out their duties.
The Sunday Mail understands that each lawmaker has been
handed a US$50 000 cap from which they can purchase more than one vehicle.
Indications are that the bulk of the vehicles will be
imported, a factor that has worried domestic automobile industry players who
say they have the capacity to produce top of the range off-road vehicles.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail, clerk of Parliament
Mr Kennedy Chokuda said delivery of the vehicles is imminent.
“We are finalising the arrangements and we expect that
within a week or so, the MPs will have their vehicles. We are in constant
communication with Treasury over the matter and they have been giving us
assurances.
“The scheme, as has been the norm, is a loan payable over a
period of five years.”
Mr Chokuda said the MPs need the vehicles to service their
constituencies in line with their roles of representing the people.
Asked if Parliament had struck a deal with local vehicle
assemblers for the supply of the vehicles, Mr Chokuda said: “It is really up to
the individual MPs and the types of vehicles they want. They are free to
negotiate their contracts with the local industry players.”
MDC chief whip Mr Prosper Mutseyami said most Members of
Parliament from his party were struggling to reach their constituencies due to
lack of vehicles.
“There are some MPs who are using public transport to get
to the people. This makes it very difficult for them to do their work,” he
said.
“It also makes them lose their dignity if we have a
situation where an Honourable Member of Parliament disembarks from a commuter
omnibus to be received by the community,” he said.
Mr Mutseyami implored Parliament to also address other
matters pertaining to the welfare of the legislators.
“It is not only about the vehicles, but other matters such
as allowances and the Constituency Development Fund,” he said.
“We are not receiving our allowances on time and we are
also worried that the ($50 000) CDF has been eroded by inflation. lt will not
do much to uplift our constituencies.”
Zanu-PF chief whip Cde Pupurai Togarepi, who has been on
record saying the revolutionary party is prepared to do without the vehicles,
advised his party’s MPs to take the vehicles only if they need them.
“We are glad that Treasury has managed to source the funds
to purchase the vehicles for the MPs. We encourage those that need the vehicles
to take advantage of the scheme, but if there are others that already have
worthy vehicles, we encourage them not to take-up the vehicles if they do not
need to,” he said.
Quest Motors managing director Mr Tariq Adam said he was
disappointed that no firm deal had been struck with his company to supply the
MPs with locally assembled vehicles.
“There has been nothing from them in terms of local
production support,” he said Sunday Mail
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