The MDC is a people’s party. By all means, I urge all ministers to reject these cars. These are certainly NOT the times for any such extravagance (especially from the MDC – we expect far much better!!!) Let’s have the vehicles sold and generate at least $1m – that will go along way in other sectors of the economy.

Cleaning of the voters’ roll must start now etc. We need to see more being done in this vital area.

Some new ministers, however, have devoted years to political activism in a country whose economy is crumbling. Diplomats here worry that Mr. Mugabe will exploit this vulnerability with his usual strategy of “bait the hook.” Many new ministers have accepted the Mercedes-Benzes that Mr. Coltart refused.

“There’s a very real danger our members and ministers could be sucked into the patronage system,” said Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara, who is now driving an E280 Mercedes. “Our members have to be vigilant and principled.”

Eric Matinenga, one of Zimbabwe’s most respected trial lawyers and the new minister of constitutional and parliamentary affairs, said he talked to others in the Movement for Democratic Change about taking a unified stand on the cars. “I said, ‘Look, how would we justify getting these luxury vehicles when there is a humanitarian crisis out there?’ ” he said. “To my disappointment, we were not able to come up with a single position.”

Mr. Matinenga, who braved arrest and weeks in jail last year after representing victims of political violence, took a metallic green E-Class Mercedes. “I know it’s not a good excuse,” he said, “but will I make a difference if I turn this down?”