Frequent flier Mugabe racks up the air miles – and the dollars

HARARE: Despite his advancing years and increasing frailty, 93-year-old Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe shows few signs of losing his love for foreign travel, a predilection that is costing his cash-strapped country dear.

Having racked up 200 000 air miles since the start of last year and outspent the parliamentary budget on trips abroad, Mugabe jetted off to the Mexican resort of Cancun this week for a “Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction” conference with a three dozen-strong delegation in tow.

Back home, the trip raised eyebrows, with opposition wags wondering whether Mugabe, who presided over economic collapse and multi-billion percent inflation a decade ago, was there to talk about causing disasters rather than preventing them.

The length of the trip was another bone of contention in a country where banks seldom allow withdrawals of more than $50 (R650) a day and the government frequently pays state wages late.

Mugabe left on May 19 on a private charter flight (his normal Air Zimbabwe plane is grounded) with an entourage of at least 35 officials, including cabinet ministers, bodyguards and reporters from state TV and the official newspaper, the Herald. He was due back yesterday – a seven-day trip for another three-day conference.

During that time, Herald staff received a daily allowance of $1 000 and other officials up to $1 500 depending on their rank, according to a government official who helped organise the trip.

By contrast, the average state employee in Zimbabwe is paid $500 a month.

To make the most of their overseas jaunts, many officials have been known to check in to cheap hotels far from conference venues to save up for property, cars or school fees back home.

“We have a bureaucracy that is getting extortionate… It is a parasitic mindset,” Tendai Biti, a former finance minister and opposition leader, said.

“When you look at the latest trip it shows a president who makes unstrategic trips to unstrategic countries.”

Last year Mugabe made at least 20 trips abroad, spending $36 million in the first 10 months.

Meanwhile, parliament, which has more than 300 members, made do with a budget of $30m for the entire year.

Despite growing concerns about his health – the government denies he falls asleep in public, saying he is merely resting his eyes – there has been no let-up this year, with eight overseas trips, including two to Singapore for medical checks.

Mugabe spokesman George Charamba could not be reached yesterday but in comments in the Herald on March 5 he said Mugabe’s globetrotting zeal proved he was strong enough to remain in office, and denied any waste of taxpayers’ money.

“Diplomacy does not come cheap,” Charamba said.

In Cancun, Mugabe attended the opening ceremony, a group photo and a closed-door meeting of leaders. He was the first to leave the session.

A security guard said the Zimbabwean delegation was not staying at the five-star Moon Palace hotel complex hosting the conference.

Western sanctions imposed in reaction to widespread allegations of security forces using violence to crush political dissent mean Mugabe is barred from visiting the US and EU. However, he has been able to exploit the diplomatic cover granted to the annual UN General Assembly to make regular visits to New York. – Reuters