THE opposition MDC has blasted President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government for reckless spending and lack of prioritisation through purchasing of luxury cars for Ministers.
In a statement released by the National Spokesman Jacob Mafume on Monday MDC said, “ZANU PF is presiding over a vampire state which devours its own people. They pursue a narrow agenda of self-aggrandizement which is why they were rejected by the people of Zimbabwe.”
Mafume accused ZANU PF of having an insatiable appetite for cars at the expense of the general populace.
“The Zanu PF government has continued to prove its insatiable hunger for cars with a reckless splashing of millions of dollars on top of the range vehicles for Ministers.” Mafume said. “Before the election they twice spent millions on cars for traditional leaders in a self-preservation exercise. They went on to use state funds to buy party cars in a move which exposes the state-party conflation.
“Recently a million dollar vehicle was bought for Mnangagwa who in his first days as President pretended to be a small car head of state.”
MDC further noted that the reckless spending by the Mnangagwa government is the major cause of budget deficit. However, government achieved a budget surplus for the month of October.
“While they are spending on cars, the budget deficit continues to balloon exposing the rhetoric on expenditure retrenchment. Presently, there are more pressing issues which that money could have put to better use.
“The pharmaceutical sector, for instance, has announced that only a month’s supply of drugs remains. A caring government could have, at least, channelled resources towards drugs procurement. There is a crippling cholera outbreak and a doctor’s strike, part of which is a result of promises that were not honored.
“Zanu PF’s lack of care forms part of its wisdom. Cars are therefore more important than the lives of the citizens.”
The vehicles purchased for cabinet ministers allegedly cost an estimated $107 000 each, translating to a combined total of over $2,14 million for the 20 full Cabinet ministers.
NewsDay