ZANU PF secretary for administration and Presidential Affairs minister Didymus Mutasa has ordered party candidates who contested the July 31 National Assembly elections to return the top-of-the-range Ford Everest vehicles they were allocated to the party with immediate effect.
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The party splashed state-of-the-art vehicles to oil its campaign machinery for its candidates nine days ahead of the do-or-die general elections.
According to the vehicle maker’s South African website, the Ford Everest costs between R384 800 to R450 800, meaning Zanu PF could have shelled out more than R100 million in acquiring the vehicles, a figure that translates to more than $10 million.
The party also acquired 550 vehicles for its campaign teams countrywide. The vehicles were sourced with the help of mogul and Meikles chairperson John Moxon.
Moxon revealed before the elections that Meikles had not supplied the vehicles, but said a company “with whom we have a connection” donated some vehicles, claiming he was not sure of the beneficiary.
“A company with whom we have a connection donated a small number of vehicles, but I’m not sure exactly whom they were donated to as we have not seen any registration certificates,” Moxon said then.
He said 500 or more vehicles would cost over $15 million, adding no one connected to him would have that kind of money.
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In a letter dated October 29 and addressed to all Zanu PF provincial chairpersons, Mutasa instructed party members to surrender the vehicles to their provincial party headquarters.
“You are instructed to ensure that all party vehicles issued to National Assembly candidates during the 2013 harmonised election campaign are returned with immediate effect,” Mutasa wrote in the letter.
“Upon the return of each vehicle, please ensure that a requisite form is signed confirming the submission and a checklist outlining the state of the vehicle.
“Each candidate has been instructed to return the vehicles to their provincial headquarters. This is the final call for the surrender of the vehicles,” Mutasa said, in a clear indication that initial calls for the return of the vehicles have been spurned.
Mutasa’s mobile phone continuously rang unanswered when Southern Eye sought a comment from him yesterday.
According to insiders, some Zanu PF members resisted calls to hand in the cars and pleaded with the party to retain the vehicles.
In Bulawayo, some candidates are not willing to surrender the vehicles.
“They were supposed to surrender the vehicles by Wednesday to the party offices, but some of them are resisting. They are saying they got the vehicles from President (Robert) Mugabe and not Mutasa and have vowed not to surrender the cars,” a party source said.
Zanu PF Bulawayo provincial chairperson Callistus Ndlovu and his Matabeleland South counterpart Andrew Langa were not reachable for comment.
However, Zanu PF Matabeleland North provincial chairperson Richard Moyo yesterday said he was yet to receive the letter.
“I will check with my office if such communication has been received, but I have not seen it yet,” Moyo said.
