Group urges Parly to repossess cars

Ivan Zhakata Herald Correspondent

Parliament should repossess vehicles of Parliamentarians who were recalled or quit before they had fully paid for the vehicles they had been allocated, or at least demand the Parliamentarians concerned pay off the loan promptly, lobby group Progressive and Patriotic Citizens of Zimbabwe (PAPCOZ) has urged.

In pursuit of full value for Government spending, Mr Patson Murimoga, the president of PAPCOZ said his group understand that every MP is entitled to a vehicle loan repayable over five years the life of Parliament.

Normally Parliamentarians serve in the House of Assembly or the Senate for the full five years, and while changes are seen at general elections, there are rarely many between elections. But in this Parliaments there has been a significant recalling and replacement of Parliamentarians, mostly as a result of the internal disputes in opposition ranks.

Mr Murimoga said the recalled Parliamentarians were allocated vehicles based on a loan to be serviced in a period of 5 years but they drove away with cars.

The Constitution stipulates that a Parliamentarian loses their seat if they cease to be a member of the party under which they were elected.

“We totally concur with this provision and agree with the fact that every political party has a right to exercise this constitutional right, if its members ceases to represent its interests.

“We also noted with concern that those who replaced the recalled members of parliament were equally allocated top of the range cars based on a 5-year loan, yet their time in office would definitely be less than 5 years.

“In some cases, some constituencies had three representatives in one term and these parliamentarians got cars. Ultimately, it is the State which is being prejudiced, unless these members of Parliament have paid their loans in full.”

Mr Murimoga said as tax payers and stakeholders, his groups wants full accountability and transparency for the vehicle loans as they were financed from public funds.

“A good example of accountability was depicted by ZANU PF when it withdrew its party vehicle from the former Member of Parliament for Chivi South, Killer Zivhu. The parliament, on the other hand, did not withdraw its parliamentary vehicle from him, despite him being an ex-member, unless of course, he paid the loan in full when he ceased to be a member of Parliament.”

Mr Murimoga has challenged the parliament to do due diligence and withdraw the vehicles from recalled members and allocate loans on a pro-rata basis lest the State was prejudiced.

“As things are, the state lost over 40 top of the range vehicles. Given the foregoing, we are mulling a court application to repossess these vehicles or force the recalled MPs to pay them in full. Our lawyers are seized with the matter and the court application process is in progress.”