Opposition abusing Parliament Vehicle Loan Scheme – PAPCOZ
Brian Rungano Temba
Pressure Group, Progressive and Patriotic Citizens of Zimbabwe (PAPCOZ) has petitioned for Parliament to change its vehicle loan scheme so that when a recall is done, the new parliamentarian from the same party that did a recall does not benefit from the vehicle loan scheme.
This comes after they have flagged a rotation of parliamentarians in particular parties, each being recalled and walking away with a vehicle under the scheme.
According to PAPCOZ chairman Patson Murimoga, this will help stop those who fan internal squabbles in any political party from benefit from such internal squabbling at the expense of the public.
“These recalls have been order of the day since the turn of the millennium to date. Recalls was used by Tsvangirai led political outfit and Mwonzora led outfit. The cost of recalls to the tax payers have been huge. During every tenure of every parliament recalls are done and burden tax payers.
“Hospitals and clinics are underfunded and are in need of these vehicles which may be used as ambulances.
“These political parties also benefit from Political party financing system. Why allowing political party to line their pockets from political finaces alocated and budgeted for and also abusing vehicle loan scheme.
“It may as well be a scheme by opposition parties to use this recall facility to enrich their members by feigning differences and recall each other so that they take turns to dip their fingers in tax payers money through a vehicle loan scheme benefits,” said Murimoga.
He said that financial resources are being put to waste because of internal squabbles of political parties who then takes those squabbles to Parliament and recall its members of Parliament one after the other in a constituency.
The recalls are usually done soon after each of the parliamentarian has been allocated a vehicle which each of the recalled parliamentarian keep despite being recalled.
In the petition PAPCOZ pointed out how the musical chairs game was played to make sure 3 Opposition Parliamentarians from Bulawayo walked away with top of the range SUVs.
“In the current tenure of Parliament, a proportional representative of Bulawayo proportional representative Tabitha Khumalo elected in year in 2018 general elections was recalled in year 2020 after benefiting from this vehicle loan scheme.
Tabitha Khumalo was allowed to keep the vehicle she benefited from the loan scheme. Tabitha Khumalo was replaced by Thokozani Khupe in the same year 2020, and she was allowed to benefit from the same vehicle loan scheme.
Thokozani Khupe after benefiting from the vehicle loan scheme she was recalled around year 2022 and she retained a vehicle she benefitted under the vehicle loan scheme.
Thokozani Khupe was replaced by another parliamentarian who has benefitted from the same vehicle loan scheme,” read the petition.
The petition also flagged another Bulawayo province proportional representative, Dorcas Sibanda was elected in 2018 General elections and benefited from the vehicle loan scheme and then recalled, she kept the loan vehicle but was replaced by Mguni Nomvula who proceeded to benefit from the vehicle loan scheme was recalled.
Mguni Nomvula was later on replaced by another third parliamentarian who benefited from the same vehicle loan scheme. All these three are from the same constituency as well.
“Parliament is now a conduit to siphon public finances and all this being caused by squabbles in opposition parties. ,” read the petition.
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