The Land Rover Discovery 3 which sells for £27,000 has been dubbed “revolutionary" by Land Rover, but the announcement that the cars have been made available to all members of the Cabinet, deputy ministers, permanent secretaries and senior government officials, has caused an outcry.
Initially, officials said ministers would be allowed to choose either a Discovery 3, or a Toyota Land Cruiser, which retails for just £17,500. But they then conceded that ministers were unlikely to go for the Land Cruiser.
It was important, said the officials, that in the tricky political terrain in Zimbabwe ministers had a fast car so they could outmanoeuvre their attackers. The ministers' security justification was attacked as a "ludicrous fig leaf", and critics condemned the scheme as an expensive waste of public money. It is the second set of vehicles they have received since the official issue of the ministerial Mercedes in 2009.
Ministers say the potholed roads have damaged their Mercs and they need high rise cars to visit the rural areas to do their work.
The tax payers, who are footing the bill for the vehicles, have poured scorn on the move.
"There is absolutely no case for a such a substantial upgrade," said youth activist, Sam Moyo.
It is understood that Land Rover's dealer in Harare lobbied the government for the prestigious order. The approval by the MDC Finance minister Tendai Biti to give US$20 million to purchase the cars has stirred up a hornet's nest.
Miles Anderson, who says he flew from the UK in 2002 to volunteer for MDC's election campaign, said he could not believe an MDC deputy could approve such a scheme.
"Nothing has happened. We are a token opposition, our followers still get beaten, abducted, raped and killed. Food aid is for many their only recourse, teachers and health staff survive on ludicrous wages and Tendai Biti votes US$20million to buy cars! I, and thousands of supporters, become gradually disillusioned every day," he said.
Post published in: News