we announced it had paid US$1
million
for the purchase of 174 vehicles for chiefs who had not yet received
their
vehicles under the State-aided vehicle purchase programme for the
traditional leaders.
The balance of US$800 000 would be paid this week to the vehicle
supplier
who was not mentioned.
In addition, all the country’s 264 chiefs would receive tractors,
ploughs,
harrows and scotch carts under the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s farm
mechanisation programme that was launched last month.
The ploughs, harrows, cultivators, scotch carts, planters and sprayers
are
part of the 700 ox-drawn implements that the central bank has
contracted
several companies to manufacture in preparation for the next farming
season.
Addressing chiefs at his offices yesterday, Reserve Bank Governor Dr
Gideon
Gono presented president of the Council of Chiefs, Chief Fortune
Charumbira,
with receipts and paperwork related to the purchase of the vehicles.
Dr Gono said it was now the duty of the Ministry of Local Government,
Public
Works and Urban Development to ensure delivery of the vehicles.
“We have done our bit. Zuva guru richauya. The purchase of the vehicles
was
delayed because we had other commitments like the purchase of maize,
fuel,
fertilizer,” he said.