Harare (ZimEye) - The cash-strapped government has given 39 ministers poshy cars - Mercedes Benz at a time the country is facing a deepening economic crisis.

The Ministers received the cars last month and are enjoying the luxuries associated with driving the Mercedes Benz at the expense of ordinary Zimbabweans who are starving to death.

Government officials told the ZimEye that the ministers were given sparkling Mercedes Benz E280, valued at close to R1 million.

Only Minister of Education, Sport, Art and Culture David Coltart refused to drive a Mercedes Benz but opted for a Nissan Pathfinder.

Coltart confirmed that he rejected the vehicle because his ministry was one of the poorest, thus it would portray a wrong perception.

He said the money that bought the flashy Mercedes Benz could have been used to import food and meet the high demand of maize meal and other basic commodities.

President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai formed an inclusive government in February.

On Friday, the Ministers are enjoying an economic planning retreat in Victoria Falls where thousands of United States dollars will be spent. (ZimEye, Zimbabwe)  Pic above: A Mercedes-Benz F700