What national debt? Sh300m to buy 2 govt cars, with Bunge’s blessings

 

What national debt? Sh300m to buy 2 govt cars, with Bunge’s blessings on 4/19/13

By Veneranda Sumila The Citizen Reporter Dodoma. Members of Parliament on Thursday approved Sh300 million to be used to purchase two government vehicles. This comes only a few years since the government announced that it had suspended the purchase of expensive and luxury vehicles to reduce lavish spending, despite a surging economy. "We agreed here last year that we cannot be spending huge amounts of money to buy luxury cars...I am surprised that the government is still allocating such huge amounts of money for the purchase of only two cars," said Ubungo MP John Mnyika (Chadema). According to Mnyika, the money could be used to purchase more cars as many councils in the country have no cars and have been working under difficult conditions. "Why don't we buy more cost-effective vehicles with the money instead of using Sh150 million to purchase a single car?" asked Mnyika. But despite his concern, legislators still allowed the money to be allocated for purchasing the two vehicles. "We have allocated this money to purchase the two vehicles as there are automobile shortages that need to be overcome," said Celina Kombani, the minister of State in the President's Office - Public Service Management - on Thursday. Efforts by the Opposition Members of Parliament to oppose the move bore no fruits as the majority ruling party MP's went ahead to pass the ministry's budget. For a decade, Tanzanians have strongly questioned the government's audacity to buy expensive vehicles that even some of the developed countries don't use for government activities. Analysts say one Sh150 million vehicle is equivalent to at least six tractors which could help hundreds of farmers. "A Sh150 million car is equivalent to at least five primary school classrooms," said Mnyika. Apart from being expensive in terms of price, these vehicles are also expensive to operate and maintain, especially in a poor country like Tanzania.