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Samantha Chigogo Harare Bureau—
THE government will splash over $1 million in buying all-terrain vehicles for newly elected National Assembly members who got into Parliament through by-elections. This comes as 290 members of the Eighth Parliament who received all-terrain Ford Ranger vehicles worth $35,000 each, are yet to start repaying the loans.

At least 30 new legislators will require the new vehicles this year after their entry into Parliament precipitated by the recalling of 21 legislators from the august House by the MDC and the sacking of five legislators by Zanu-PF.

Two other seats became vacant as a result of deaths while another two were necessitated by the elevation to the post of Vice President of Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa and the expulsion of Joice Mujuru from Zanu-PF.

Already 19 by-elections have been held this year and four more are pending in Mbire, Mwenezi East, Marondera Central (September 19) and Mudzi West (July 24).

Seven go into Parliament via proportional representation based on the MDC-T’s share of the vote in the 2013 harmonised elections.

If Parliament is going to use its Vehicle Loan Scheme with a local motor vehicle dealer, Croco Motors, it means the 30 legislators will need not less than $1,1 million for the Ford Ranger vehicles.

Clerk of Parliament Kennedy Chokuda last week said Parliament was aware of the prerequisite and had already notified Treasury about it.

“We’re in the process of ensuring that the newly elected MPs get their share of duty vehicles,” he said, without disclosing how much was required for the vehicles.

“We’ve put a request to the Treasury and we await their response. Only then can we start necessary processes to ensure they get the vehicles.”

Under the Croco Motors deal, the government set a ceiling of $35,000 per vehicle with MPs who settled for vehicles priced above that being asked to pay the difference.

Croco Motors supplies the vehicles on a credit facility to be settled by the government, while the legislators pay back the dues during their five-year tenure.

Parliament has already instituted proceedings to force the 22 legislators kicked out of Parliament to repay the money because on average each of these parliamentarians owes the government $35,000.

Chokuda recently said no former legislator would go scot free.

“When they secured the vehicles under this revolving fund, the legislators signed contracts which stated that they would pay back the money,” he said.

“We’re now working on modalities on how these expelled legislators will pay back the money because on average each of the 22 parliamentarians owes us $35, 000. Necessary steps will be taken for us to recover the money since they’re no longer in Parliament.”

Former Hurungwe West MP Temba Mliswa turned down the loan.