“The purchase of vehicles for MPs is legitimate”

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“The purchase of vehicles for MPs is legitimate”

7:49 CAT | 14 Jun 2017

Courtesy photo / For illustration purposes only

Rogério Nkomo says money spent buying cars for Assembly of the Republic members represents an insignificant amount in the State Budget.

At this time of crisis, the government has bought 18 Mercedes Benz cars for 228 million meticais (US$3,761,863 at current exchange rates) for the members of the Standing Committee of the Assembly of the Republic, the Mozambican parliament, O País reports.

The decision, in a year when the state has had to cut many expenses in the face of financial difficulties, has been criticised in certain quarters, but the National Budget Director Rogério Nkomo argues that the cars fulfil the protocol rights of the beneficiaries.

“It is legally legitimate for the members of the Assembly of the Republic to be transported in protocol cars of that level, as is the case with members of other organs of state sovereignty,” Nkomo said.

While acknowledging the economic difficulties the country faces, Nkomo adds that the acquisition had already started in early 2016 and had to be completed this year in order to safeguard the rights of deputies.

He said, furthermore, that the purchase represented an insignificant amount in the State Budget.

According to O País, the cars cost up to 4.4 million meticais each (US$72,420 at current exchange rates).

Source: O País