MUGABES SCORE SWEET DEAL
Special gazette lists perks for ‘retired’ Zimbabwe presidents
ROBERT Mugabe may no longer be the Zimbabwean president‚ but he will be living like one. Mugabe, 93, was forced to resign last month after a temporary military takeover. Emmerson Mnangagwa, who had been sacked from his job as vice-president by Mugabe earlier that month, then took over as head of state.
Mnangagwa has revealed – in an official gazette – that Mugabe and his wife, Grace, 52, are entitled to more than 25 staff‚ a fully furnished office‚ two properties‚ a fleet of cars for employees‚ private international travel and an entertainment allowance.
Grace will also be looked after when Mugabe dies and entitled to stay in an official residence.
Zimbabwe’s The Herald newspaper reported yesterday that Mnangagwa had released a special gazette detailing the benefits applicable to a retired president.
The gazette specifically details benefits for any retired president who ruled Zimbabwe since 1987.
That was the year Mugabe went from being prime minister to president‚ suggesting the law was specifically designed with the Mugabes in mind. Perks allocated to Mugabe include: ý A fully furnished official residence in Harare;
ý Housing allowance or a private residence anywhere in Zimbabwe with five bedrooms and three guest rooms or a lump sum of money equivalent to the cost of building a private residence;
ý At least six security staff‚ which can be increased at the current head of government’s request;
ý Two drivers, two private secretaries‚ two office assistants and two personal assistants;
ý At the residence, Mugabe is able to employ two gardeners‚ two cooks‚ two waiters‚ two laundry staff and three domestic workers;
ý An office with computers‚ cellphone‚ landline; and
ý Vehicles and petrol costs for all staff serving the president. The cars must be replaced every five years. Mnangagwa has the discretion to increase the number of security personnel and decide Mugabe’s entertainment allowance.
The private residence‚ described in the gazette as a reasonably sized house‚ is allowed to have five bedrooms‚ a guest wing with three guest rooms‚ a study‚ swimming pool‚ two guardrooms and two garages.
The benefits also include medical aid contributions for the former president‚ his wife and children under the age of 21.
Mugabe and his wife will have diplomatic passports‚ and first-class air and train transport four times a year inside the country, as well as four international private air trips and the use of a Mercedes-Benz 500 series or equivalent vehicle in a foreign country.
ZIMBABWE’S former army commander, who led a military takeover that helped end Robert Mugabe’s 37-year rule, was sworn in as one of Zimbabwe’s two vice-presidents yesterday.
General Constantino Chiwenga, 61, took the oath of office in Harare, pledging to obey, uphold and defend the constitution.
Also sworn in as vice-president yesterday was veteran politician and long-serving state security minister Kembo Mohadi.
“I will discharge my duties with all my strength and to the best of my knowledge and ability,” Chiwenga said at the ceremony on the lawns of the presidential residence.
Zimbabwe’s new president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, dozens of government officials, military and police chiefs as well as traditional leaders attended the event.
Chiwenga retired from the military last week, slightly over a month after the army temporarily took control of the country on November 15, culminating in Mugabe’s resignation six days later.
Mnangagwa, who had a few weeks earlier been humiliated and sacked from his job as vice-president by Mugabe, then took over as head of state.
Mugabe, 93, was ousted from power after the military stepped in following internal feuding and factionalism that escalated in the ruling Zanu-PF party over who would succeed him.
Mugabe’s wife, Grace, had expressed an interest in succeeding her husband. Chiwenga’s ascent to the country’s second-most powerful job has further consolidated the military’s power in Zimbabwe.
Mnangagwa did not give a speech at the inauguration of his deputies, but said their responsibility was to spur on government ministers.
Chiwenga became the face of the rapid transition in Zimbabwe.
It started on November 13, two days before the coup, when he went on state television, calling on ruling party officials to “stop reckless utterances . . . denigrating the military”.
The next day, tanks rolled on to the streets of the capital.
The appointment of Chiwenga and several other senior army officers in government posts and positions in Zanu-PF is seen as a reward for the army’s instrumental role in ending Mugabe’s rule.
Two other top military officials were also awarded ministerial posts earlier this month.
Former air force chief Perrance Shiri became the new lands and agriculture minister, and the general who announced the military takeover, Sibusiso Moyo, is the new foreign affairs minister.
Another senior military officer, Lieutenant-General Engelbert Rugeje, was earlier this month appointed Zanu-PF national political commissar, a powerful position equivalent to organising secretary.