Army blows US$1,3 million on new vehicles

Army blows US$1,3 million on new vehicles

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By Lebo Nkatazo

CASH-STRAPPED Zimbabwe has splashed close to US$1,3 million on new military vehicles, a parliamentary committee revealed Thursday.

The shock revelations came as the country's Registrar General stopped all passport applications because his office has no foreign currency to import the special paper used on passports.

In its latest report, the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Home Affairs revealed that the army had spent US$1 296 300,00 on the importation of new vehicles.

The committee did not state where and when the purchases were made.

Amazingly, the committee urged the country's monetary authorities to release more foreign currency towards the purchase of "strategic numerically controlled machines."

It said the machines "can do multiple functions such as high precision tools, engine components, aircraft and vehicle spare parts for industrial machines, spares for agricultural machinery, new surgical equipment that has an existing design including artillery shells, rockets and missiles".

The committee added that the machines were expected to cost US$2 million as of June 2006.

Zimbabwe is going through a severe economic crisis with inflation topping 1 000 percent. Crippling foreign currency shortages have had a debilitating effect on the provision of public services across the county.

Zimbabwe continues to spend more on the security services despite the fact that the country has never gone to war -- save for a couple of interventions in Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The country recently acquired eight fighter jets from China at an estimated cost of US$200 million.

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