Mozambican Metical 1 MZN = 0,0000140892 EUR↔ Euro 1 EUR = 70 976,26 MZN

Mozambique Government Buys 45 Luxury Cars

The announcements of the government’s new acquisitions cover nearly a page of newspaper Notícia’s edition. Through the National Directorate of State Assets [Direcção National do Patrimonial do Estado], the government is buying 45 luxury vehicles, whose prices range from 1,350,000.00 to just over 11 million meticais per unit.

In three direct adjustments, the government commissioned one Mercedes-Benz, S500 model, worth 11,429,711MT, one Mercedes-Benz S400, priced at 10,754,280MT, and one Toyota Land Cruiser 200, VX, Station, 8 seater, at the cost of 10.745.280MT.

The other 42 cars are being bought through public tenders. In the first batch, the government ordered 20 Mercedes-Benz C180, and will pay 2,290,000MT for each one. In the third batch, are 10 Ford Ranger 3.2, double cabin, priced at 1,978,000MT each, plus another Ford, a Wildtrak 3.2, double cabin, which costs 2,227,000MT.

In the fourth lot, the government is to buy four Hyundai, Accent 1.6cc, priced at 1,905,995.00MT each, and finally in the last lot are seven Peugeot 508, with the cost of 1,385,000MT per each vehicle. This Is the lowest Price [in the List].

Also Read: Watch: Verónica Macamo speaks out on Mercedes for MPs

The purchase of 45 vehicles represents a cost of 118,096,251MT to the State coffers [about US$1,935,914 at current exchange rates] and is made in a year in which the Government took over the rationalisation of public expenditure and set to prioritise the allocation of resources to economic and social sectors.

But reality shows the opposite. For example, in this year’s State Budget, the government expects to spend 132 million meticais with the purchase of public transport buses, practically the same value of vehicles that will serve only 45 leaders.

Also Read: Mozambique: Luxury cars for members of parliament in a time of crisis 

In the same State Budget, the government plans to spend only 50 million metical’s on the purchase of school desks, which represents less than half the total cost of these 45 vehicles.

The value of the purchase of these vehicles exceeds in about 40 million the budget allocated to the National Institute of Management of Disasters [INGC] for this year.

Also in this year’s State Budget, the Government has reserved 140 million meticais for the Strategic Program for the Reduction of Urban Poverty. Therefore, only 20 million differences from the value allocated to these luxury vehicles.

In the meantime, the Government refused to react on the matter, referring the press to the sector which awarded the vehicles.
SAISI