HARARE – Buffeted by public criticism, President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime on Sunday defended the dolling out of 19 brand new vehicles worth US$1.14 million to leaders of minor political parties in apparent reward for endorsing the Zanu PF leader’s disputed 2018 election victory.
Mnangagwa handed over the vehicle last Friday, telling the beneficiaries – who collectively received less than 5 percent of the vote – that they can own the vehicles in three years, or just after the next elections in 2023.
The vehicle handover was criticised as a waste of taxpayer money by the opposition.
Government spokesman Ndavaningi Mangwana turned to whataboutism in defence of the donations, tweeting: “So, it’s ok for foreign governments and their NGOs to resource the activities of opposition parties, but wrong for own governments do so?”
One of the beneficiaries of the Isuzu D-Max twin cabs, NCA leader Lovemore Madhuku wrote on Twitter in reaction to criticism: “The vehicle is from the government of Zimbabwe. I am a political leader in Zimbabwe. I lead a party called NCA. The NCA believes in the Political Actors Dialogue philosophy. The vehicle will help me to spread the POLAD approach and build the NCA. Wait and see.
“Further, I operate on the following premise: Zimbabweans must always strive to find each other. For me and the NCA, POLAD provides the best platform so far where different political parties may engage with the government of the day. We will always need a POLAD.”
Madhuku, who got 2,692 votes in 2018, claimed the NCA “will win in 2023”.
Sixteen of the vehicles were given to some of the 2018 presidential candidates while three went to the secretariat.
Mnangagwa said the political leaders could only use the vehicles for “political work or developmental work”, adding: “In terms of regulations in the public sector, after three years we will then review and make sure that they can belong to you.”
MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere blasted: “We condemn the abuse of state resources to buy vehicles for and fund an unelected, captured, false dialogue outfit when the country’s hospitals have insufficient ambulances and civil servants including teachers and doctors are underpaid.
“It’s a misrepresentation that Mnangagwa routinely meets the leader of the opposition. He only meets opposition leaders that he creates and controls. The continued attempt to supplant the main opposition and create a proxy puppet outfit must be seen by all progressive citizens for what it is. It’s an insult to constitutional democracy, true parliamentary representation and a mockery of the will of the people.”
Mnangagwa created POLAD after inviting the 23 presidential candidates who stood against him for dialogue following his disputed election win. MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa and others, including Joice Mujuru, Nkosana Moyo, Jacob Ngarivhume and Joseph Makamba Busha snubbed the platform questioning his legitimacy.
Mnangagwa’s critics say he is using POLAD to claim cross-party support for his government. A newspaper reported on Sunday that Mnangagwa also wants the political leaders to back plans to postpone by-elections.
