Govt justifies K1.6bn ministers’ cars purchase

Malawi finance authorities have defended the purchase of a new fleet of vehicles for cabinet ministers, describing the move as cost cutting measure.

The government has bought new Toyota Prados at K1.6 billion.

The decision has been criticized by some members of the public, opposition political leaders and economists describing it at extravagance at a time when the economy is still struggling.

However, Minister of Finance Ken Lipenga told capital fm in Lilongwe that the money be used to buy the vehicles was already budgeted for in the 2012/2013 budget.

Lipenga said the office of the president and cabinet has instructed that all mercedenze Benz for cabinet ministers be sold-off to allow ministers use the new VX and TX prados that government is to buy for its cabinet ministers.

He said this is a new development that government has adopted for ministers to have one vehicle, unlike the current setup where the ministers are using two vehicles.

According to Lipnega the coming of the prados is also good news to some ministers who had complained that the Mercedes Benz were not road worthy whenever they were travelling in the field for some government engagements or visiting their constituencies.

Lipenga said at the moment a decision has not been made yet on who is to buy the vehicles, but reports are rife the vehicles will be sold to the very same ministers at 10% the price that were bought.

But Lipenga denied the rumors saying cabinet ministers are given the opportunity to buy the cars after every five years.

At the moment a VX PRADO is at K46 Million at Toyota Malawi.