CHIEFS will now pay for the vehicles allocated to them under the Traditional Leaders (Benefits and Conditions) gazetted last week. Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo last week gazetted the new regulations on benefits for the traditional leaders under Statutory 14, 2013.

"These regulations may be cited as the Traditional Leaders (Benefits and Conditions of Service) Regulations, 2013.

"With effect from the Ist of September, 2004, substantive chief's shall be provided with vehicles for use under the Chief's Revolving Fund.

"The full cost of each vehicle purchased will be recovered from the chief so allocated the vehicle, with the interest over a period to be determined by the minister from time to time," reads the regulations.

Zimbabwe Chiefs Council president Chief Fortune Charumbira said there was nothing new in the regulations as they have always been paying back for their cars.

"We have always been paying back, I can assure you, no chief owes the Government anything for those cars we have received in the past," he said.

He added that the traditional leaders were supposed to receive new cars after every five years but had received nothing since the formation of the inclusive Government.