GOVERNMENT’S Command Agriculture benefactor Kudakwashe
Tagwirei reportedly splashed millions of scarce United States dollars on luxury
vehicles for President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputies, Constantino
Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi, as well as their spouses and several other top
government officials, NewsDay has learned.
Tagwirei reportedly bought the top-of-the-range Lexus
vehicles for Mnangagwa, First Lady Auxillia, Chiwenga and his wife, Marry, as
well as Mohadi, while several government officials received V8 Toyota Land
Cruiser vehicles ahead of the disputed July 30 elections won by Zanu PF.
It is understood that the vehicles were brought into the
country under the government’s ambitious Command Agriculture scheme and were
reportedly exempted from paying import duty.
Tagwirei, the owner of Sakunda Petroleum, which is in a
50-50 partnership with Trafigura, a Singaporean company with vast interests in
the fuel industry across the globe, allegedly seized the opportunity to also
import three Lexus vehicles for himself, while two of his business allies also
capitalised on the avenue.
The businessman did not comment despite several follow-ups
and text messages. Mnangagwa’s spokesperson George Charamba refused to
comment, saying it was not a government issue.
“It is not a government issue. I am not the spokesperson of
Command Agriculture. Talk to (Agriculture) minister Perrance Shiri,” he said.
Shiri confirmed that his ministry took delivery of the
top-of-the-range cars, saying these were imported for the Command Agriculture
programme.
He, however, denied reports that some of the vehicles found
their way to the Presidium.
“The vehicles are for Command Agriculture. I have the
register of all the vehicles under the Command Agriculture scheme. You can come
to my office and I will show you,” Shiri, who is also reportedly a beneficiary
of the vehicles, said.
“About those you say were given to the President and
others, I don’t know. It’s not true.”
However, well-placed sources in government revealed that Shiri
himself benefited, as he also received an upmarket Land Cruiser.
Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Misheck
Sibanda, was also listed as a beneficiary alongside one of his deputies, Justin
Mupamhanga, who was reportedly handed a Land Cruiser vehicle, while his wife
reportedly got a Mercedes-Benz ML sport-utility vehicle.
Mupamanga is also the chairman of the Integrated Command
Agriculture Taskforce.
An unnamed army Brigadier-General, who represents the
military in the Command Agriculture scheme, was also “blessed” with a
top-of-the-range vehicle, while several twin-cab trucks were given to some
officials in various ministries.
The vehicles, reportedly imported from South Africa, were
handed to the beneficiaries some few days before the death of Tagwirei’s father
that brought government and Parliament business at a virtual standstill after
the Presidium and government ministers rushed to attend his burial, showing the
businessman’s influence in the top echelons of power.
Mnangagwa reportedly first used his white Lexus vehicle at
the funeral of Chiwenga’s sister two weeks before the death of Tagwirei’s
father.
The President, Chiwenga and Mohadi all have government
service vehicles and it was not clear what positions Auxillia and Marry have in
the Command Agriculture scheme to deserve the luxury vehicles.
Command Agriculture is a government programme funded through
Treasury Bills, contrary to claims that the Sakunda boss funded the project.
Tagwirei has been cited as the biggest reason why the
country’s domestic debt has continued to skyrocket at the expense of the
majority hard-pressed taxpayers.
Recently, Tagwirei, possibly the biggest Zanu PF benefactor
so far, who has also been awarded many controversial government deals,
including the Dema diesel power project, bought over 50 vehicles for Zanu PF
officials, with more expected to be delivered to the ruling party anytime soon.
He reportedly financed the ambitious government programme
to the tune of over $500 million, which he was paid back through Treasury Bills
in an arrangement described by former Finance minister Tendai Biti as a
parallel scheme and the beginning of State capture.
A former Zanu PF youth leader, William “Acie Lumumba”
Mutumanje, last week set the cat among the pigeons, saying that some
businesspeople had captured the country, a claim directed at Tagwirei. Newsday
0 comments:
Post a Comment