MEC spends K500m on commissioners’ Prados
The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has spent over K500 million (about $1.2m) buying top-of-the-range 11 Toyota Prado TXs for commissioners which it argues will facilitate their mobility during the current electoral process.
MEC’s media and public relations director Sangwani Mwafulirwa confirmed the buying of the vehicles on Friday, saying the expenditure was budgeted for and approved by Parliament in the 2013/14 budget.
But Mwafulirwa said the commission only spent K200 million (about $500 000) which was in the budget for the vehicles while government through Treasury paid the balance.
According to the current open-market pricing, a Toyota Prado TX costs K47.4 million (about $118 500); which put the total cost for the 11 vehicles, which have already been delivered, at K521.4 million (about $1.3m)
Said Mwafulirwa: “The commission has bought 11 vehicles for commissioners. Parliament approved K200 million in the 2013/14 budget for purchase of vehicles for the commission and this is the amount the commission paid to the supplier of the vehicles. The difference was met by government which bought the vehicles for the commission.”
On why the commission opted for the top of the range vehicles on the market when the organisation has been complaining of poor funding, the Mwafulirwa said the vehicles were ideal for travelling to areas with difficult terrain.
“They [the vehicles] are Toyota Prados and this was felt deserving for commissioners considering that elections involve travelling in remote areas with difficult terrain,” he said.
“The commissioners did not have [suitable] vehicles which gave some challenges in the performance of their duties, more especially at the time when preparations for elections next year are intensifying,” he added.
“You may also wish to know that there is still a big demand for vehicles at the commission and at the moment, we are relying on vehicles from government departments and parastatal institutions. The current fleet that the commission has is due for disposal as it is aged and is becoming expensive to maintain,” he said.
Mwafulirwa disputed allegations that MEC is formulating new conditions of service for commissioners which will allow them to go away with the vehicles at the end of their contracts. He said the vehicles will remain the commission’s property.
Malawi Electoral Support Network (Mesn) chairperson Steven Duwa has also defended the buying of the vehicles, arguing proper transportation will facilitate their involvement in the electoral activities.
On the amount spent on the vehicles, Duwa said: “Our understanding is that this must have been budgeted for and, therefore, it’s not affecting the elections budget.”
The commission is operating on K18.4 billion (about $46m) budget on assumption that government will provide 60 percent of the amount while the remaining 40 percent will be funded by developing partners.
