"Urikuda Kuti Wafambe Nepick-up Truck Here?"

Robert Farago
by Robert Farago

The question comes from Zimbabwe's Deputy Information minister, Bright Matonga, who wants to know if critics of President Robert Mugabe want the president to travel in a pick-up truck. Matonga was defending his president's modified Mercedes S-Class limousines to AllAfrica.com. According to the news report, Mugabe rides in an up-armored stretch S that cost $1.4m. The President also decreed that his 30 ministers should attend to their duties in a fleet of S350s, replacing their E230s, which they could buy from the government for ZIM $5m ($19,595). Spinmeister Matonga refused to discuss the details: "This is a security issue and we don't discuss security issues with anybody. If government decides to buy vehicles for the president or cabinet ministers it is justified because we're a very responsible government."

Robert Farago
Robert Farago

More by Robert Farago

Comments
Join the conversation
4 of 6 comments
  • Oboylepr Oboylepr on Aug 04, 2007
    Having never been to Zimbabwe myself and, therefore, relying on the 3-4 news snippets a quarter to educate me on the state of the people and govt. of Zimbabwe, $1.4 million for a car sounds completely justifiable for a leader who runs his country so well. Live it up Bobby Mugabe, you’ve earned it. I am guessing that maybe you are being sarcastic. I dunno! In any case Mugabe is nothing but a thug plain and simple. he took a great country economically and has all but destroyed it. I appluad The idea of Africans owning and controlling their country but the way this twit has gone about it sucks! If things keep going the way they are, he's going to need that armoured merc. BTW. I have been there and saw the mess for myself.
  • Taxman100 Taxman100 on Aug 04, 2007

    Yup - steal land from those that farmed it for generations, just because they are a different skin color. Can you imagine, taking wealth from one person just because they have it, and then giving it to someone else who did nothing to earn it? What kind of country is that? Zimbabwe used to be known as the breadbasket of Central Africa - now it is a total disaster.

  • Johnster Johnster on Aug 05, 2007

    Years ago I remember watching an episode of 60 Minutes where they interviewed the late prime minister of India, Indira Gandhi. They showed a clip of her riding in the middle of a convoy, she in a large white limousine, surrounded by smaller cars. Then came the close-up. The smaller cars were those Indian-built versions of the old Morris Oxford, while the "Limousine" was a '66 or '67 Chevy II! But then maybe it was just for show and she had a big Benz hidden somewhere she used when the cameras weren't around.

  • Whatdoiknow1 Whatdoiknow1 on Aug 07, 2007

    Hey Taxman, give it some thought and you will see that the people who had their so-called land stolen from them did the exact same thing to the native people of that country who also farmed the land for generations before some foriegner of a differet skin color came and stole their land. Bad begets Bad!

Next