Police refuse to return Tsvangirai’s bullet proof BMW X5

By George Mpofu for FFZE

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s lawyers are suing the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) for refusing to release his bullet-proof car, which has been impounded since the last election in 2008, so he can use it as he campaigns to become the country’s next president.

Mr Tsvangirai, head of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T), has petitioned police and the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) for the release of the South African-registered BMW X5 utility vehicle, and has paid $2,000 for its release, said his lawyer C.

“Police and ZIMRA impounded the Prime Minister’s campaign vehicle in 2008 saying that it was not properly imported into the country. They demanded $2,000 which I went to pay but they are still refusing to release the vehicle so that my client can use it,” Sibanda told FFZE.

The vehicle, part of Tsvangirai’s security motorcade, was impounded by police on June 6, 2008 in Lupane district in Matabeleland North province while Tsvangirai was campaigning in the last election. Mr Sibanda said the car has been parked in the open at the rural Lupane Police Station since it was seized.

“We have been left with no option now, but to take to them to court,” he said.

The vehicle was donated to Mr Tsvangirai by his South African friend Adrian Espag for use as he toured the country to drum up support ahead of the 2008 presidential poll.

Police impounded the vehicle because, they said, it was being driven by an unauthorised driver according to regulations that forbid anyone from driving a foreign-registered vehicle if they are not documented as such at the port of entry. ZIMRA was not available for comment on the issue of his car.

Police spokeswoman Charity Charamba said: “Since they are approaching the courts there is nothing much we say, let them go ahead.”

The 2008 election was derailed by violence mostly perpetrated by supporters of President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party. A run-off was called after Mr Tsvangirai won the first round of the election but Mr Tsvangirai refused to participate as supporters were being attacked by ZANU-PF militias, leading to the death at least 200 people.

ZANU-PF was forced into an uneasy coalition with Mr Tsvangirai’s MDC-T and another MDC faction. Mr Tsvangirai became Prime Minister. He is hoping to win the presidency when Zimbabweans go to the polls on July 31. ZimbabweElection.com