The Movement for Democratic Change led by Morgan Tsvangirai has called on the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority to investigate whether the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front paid duty on at least 365 vehicles that the party is reported to have bought in preparation for the elections next year.
MDC-T said ZANU-PF is reported to have spent about $60 million on the vehicles and could have smuggled them into the country, costing the revenue authority millions of dollars.
“Fundamentally, the source of the money that ZANU-PF used to purchase more than 365 motor vehicles and buses remains shrouded in secrecy,” party spokesman Obert Gutu said.
“The MDC calls upon ZANU-PF, to provide proof of import duty paid for these vehicles.
“Our investigations as a party have discovered some very scary facts about this recent acquisition of motor vehicles by the ZANU-PF regime.
“We are thoroughly convinced that the source of the money used to import the vehicles borders on high level and institutionalised criminality.
“We therefore challenge the revenue authority, ZIMRA, to provide concrete and credible proof that import duty for the vehicles in question was paid.”
Gutu said investigations had also revealed that the ruling elite within ZANU-PF was in the habit of smuggling various items and commodities for their personal use and their business enterprises.
“Put bluntly, smuggling being practised by ZANU-PF as a political party and members of the ruling elite is costing the country millions if not billions of United States dollars in lost revenue every year,” he said.
Zimbabwe is holding crucial elections next year and the MDC-T has been trying to form coalitions with other opposition parties to kick ZANU-PF out.
ZANU-PF is also rocked by factional fighting as people jostle to position themselves to succeed 93-year-old Mugabe who is the party’s presidential candidate for next year’s elections.
Mugabe’s health is, however, failing despite denials by his spokesman and according to The Independent this is unsettling his wife Grace.
“Grace is in a quandary; she has to deal Mugabe’s health challenges and political issues as well,” the paper reported.
“She wants him to resolve this issue urgently by either helping her in or supporting (Defence Minister, Sydney) Sekeramayi.
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