Allegations have emerged that the 102 high-end vehicles donated by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) in September have yet to be officially received. Sources told Masvingo Mirror that the fleet remains idle at the Msasa Logistics Garrison Depot in Harare, with senior army officials reportedly hesitant to accept them due to concerns that the vehicles could be fitted with tracking devices.
“There is hesitancy. There is strong fear that because the vehicles are personal donations and not coming from the fiscus, these could undermine the integrity and independence of the army,” a source said.
Efforts to obtain clarity from ZNA officials were met with limited responses. Deputy Director of Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Tichafa Mungofa, referred questions to ZDF spokesperson Colonel Charles Mutizhe, who requested that inquiries be sent via WhatsApp but had not responded by press time.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence and War Veterans Affairs, Aaron Nhepera, noted that the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) is an independent institution and operates according to its own timetable. “I am not aware that the vehicles were not distributed. As you know ZDF is an independent institution. They do their own things whenever they feel it is suitable for them,” Nhepera said.
During the donation ceremony, President Mnangagwa said the vehicles were part of a broader programme aimed at enhancing mobility and operational efficiency within the ZDF. The initiative, he explained, would include the procurement of additional vehicles, such as buses, to enable the Defence Forces to effectively carry out constitutional duties, including defending national sovereignty, supporting infrastructure development, and responding to disasters.
Sources suggest that the impasse over the initial batch of 102 vehicles is delaying the rollout of a further 700 vehicles that were pledged under the same programme. The situation has raised questions about the implementation of government support initiatives for the armed forces and the potential implications for institutional independence.
Source – Mirror
