Local Government Deputy minister, Sesel Zvidzai confirmed that chiefs were paying for the vehicles that they received from the government.
“They have been paying,” he said. “But as you know, some of the payments became meaningless because of the inflationary environment around 2008.”
Zvidzai, like Charumbira, said the chiefs’ vehicle scheme was similar to the parliamentary one and there was nothing new about it. He confirmed that chiefs were owed vehicles, saying the government was failing to keep pace with replacements.
“In the past four years they have been receiving their cars in dribs and drabs and this is not enough for them,” Zvidzai said.
He said it was government’s desire to ensure the “decorum of chieftainship is enhanced”, as they were the custodians of culture.
