Pay up or lose cars, recalled MPs told

Herald Correspondent

TWENTY ONE legislators recalled from Parliament by their political parties before the end of their five-year term are set to lose the all-terrain luxury vehicles bought under a loan scheme unless they pay up the outstanding amounts.

The legislators, 20 from MDC-T and one from Zanu PF, were among those granted a loan to buy a Toyota Landcruiser Prado TX vehicle.

This would normally be extinguished over the five years of a Parliamentary term, but as the 21 left before the five years were up, they still owe substantial amounts meaning the balance must be paid or the vehicle surrendered.

A brand new Landcruiser Prado Tx costs up to US$86 000.

In an interview, Clerk of Parliament Mr Kennedy Chokuda said the sacked MPs have an option to surrender the vehicles if they cannot afford to pay the money. All 21 are still using the vehicles.

Mr Chokuda said: “When an MP is recalled they are supposed to pay for the vehicle or surrender the vehicle. If they fail to pay for the vehicles or to surrender them, we will engage our lawyers.”

A socio-economic lobby group, Progressive and Patriotic Citizens of Zimbabwe (PAPCOZ), made an inquiry with the Clerk of Parliament on the vehicle purchase scheme for legislators after challenging Parliament last week to repossess vehicles of legislators who were recalled and failed to pay the balance owed.

PAPCOZ said, as citizens and taxpayers, they were concerned about the exposure of the State to unnecessary expenditure, Treasury strain and Parliamentary accountability or unaccountability.

They have since written a letter to Mr Chokuda inquiring about the vehicle purchase scheme for legislators.