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Mugabe: My $12,000 Salary Not Enough
President Robert Mugabe has claimed he was bearing the brunt of the economic hardships in Zimbabwe, but at the same time revealed earning a mega monthly salary of $12 000 per month at a time the majority of civil servants were getting less than $300, well below the poverty datum line.
By Phyllis Mbanje
Mugabe — who last year claimed he was earning $4 000 a month — did not reveal how his salary had multiplied three-fold in less than 12 months without being gazetted by the government.
Speaking at Harare Central Hospital where he commissioned medical equipment bought through a
$100 million Export-Import Bank of China loan facility, Mugabe described his $12 000 pay as meagre and not in line with salaries of his peers in the region. The 91-year-old leader said he earned a basic salary of $10 000 per month and allowances totalling $2 000.
“We should all just be grateful that we have food on our tables. Kana pane sadza nenyama ndizvozvowo (if there is only sadza and meat, that’s it). I am suffering just like you,” he said.
Zimbabwe’s economy has been in a tailspin for more than a decade with firms operating below capacity because of lack of capital, high unemployment, power cuts and dilapidated infrastructure.
The majority of civil servants are wallowing in abject poverty and are not being paid on time while corruption among senior government officials has reached unprecedented levels.
Mugabe’s latest revelations about his earnings are in sharp contrast with the figure that he mentioned last year when he said “he only earned $4 000”.
The First Family owns a multi-million-dollar business empire in Zimbabwe, including farms, dairy business and exclusive schools.
Mugabe’s expenses are largely footed by the State, including his numerous foreign travels, food, medical bills, accommodation, security and transportation.
The Zanu PF leader yesterday once again blamed Zimbabwe’s economic problems on travel and trade restrictions imposed on him by Western countries.
Mugabe said the United States was now thumbing its nose at China and yet they benefited from loans advanced by the Asian country.
“I want (US President Barack) Obama to hear this: China sustained them during their economic crisis and they were never made to pay back those loans, but now they are snubbing China,” he said. Mugabe praised his all-weather friends in the Far East for standing by Zimbabwe since the days of the liberation war.
Speaking at the same occasion, Health and Child Care minister David Parirenyatwa said the medical equipment, some of which had already been deployed to other hospitals in the country, would go a long way in boosting staff morale.
He said effective health delivery service was only possible if the required tools were made available.
Part of the equipment included theatre tables, blood pressure monitoring machines and others.
Harare Central Hospital clinical director George Vera said they had to devise ways and means to ensure constant drug supply.
This follows recent reports that drugs, including the anti-septic Betadine, were in short supply at one of the oldest hospitals in the country.
“What should never be out of stock are emergency drugs like those used in the theatre. We aspire to keep our drug supply at acceptable levels,” Vera said, adding the institution now had stocks of Betadine.
Meanwhile, Parirenyatwa said while everyone blamed the health system for the mismanagement of the cholera outbreak, emphasis should be placed on a steady supply of clean water and proper sanitation.
“If there is limited water supply and poor sanitation, those are the conditions in which cholera thrives,” he said.
His comments come in the wake of eight confirmed cases of cholera in Mudzi, Chiredzi and Chirundu.
Harare, like many cities, is beset by severe water shortages and many people have resorted to alternative but unsafe sources of water.
“Our concern is that the disease should not spread to Harare and we have already sent all our teams to the border towns,” Parirenyatwa said.
In Mudzi the team has set up camp to monitor and deal with any new cases.
Newsday
Posted by
PF Member
March 8, 2015 at 9:44 am
Those are words from Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s Father.
Currently Lungu is getting $17,000 per month.The man increased the salary without govt approval.
I am telling u the truth, Edgar Lungu will be worse than Mugabe but we just trust Embassy Park to do us a favour by swallowing the In coming dictator up.
Lungu is a failure. He promised to reduce the retirement age but up to now, reetired workers are being called back for work.
new educated Zambia
March 8, 2015 at 11:07 am
Am glad you pf chaps are now coming to terms with reality. The upnd doors are open for those who would like to genuinely contribute to national development
new educated Zambia
March 8, 2015 at 11:06 am
Sorry bane but hhangover temunobe. Am struggling this a.m. before you criticise me knowthat eeven tthe educated drink and have a laugh. I will comment in full once my madam cooks a ppowerful bfast to eradicate this feeling. I know alot of you are anxiously waiting for my informative contribution. Sorry for the wait.
shimaini
March 8, 2015 at 11:15 am
@ new educated Zambia, its not right for you to always speak highly about UPND. You are being childish by telling the world about HO and what your wife is doing. Grow up dude and comment maturely.
new educated Zambia
March 8, 2015 at 11:20 am
Just like the upnd, transparency and honesty in approach is cardinal to me. When I have not commented people anxiously ask where I am. It is not my fault that my views and constructive comments have given me a strong following. Try and be constructive too and u might just feel wanted. Good morning
jobreaker
March 8, 2015 at 2:04 pm
@ Pf member, what’s with u and Edgar,are u telling me that edgar decided to inform u alone of his salary, moreover if u had to be the managing director of Zesco aren’t u not given Ur salary according to Ur position…Edgar is now a president of s king if u are still in that old way of thinking mentality so u will know the trem give the king what’s his rightfully his.we chose him to take that position then we need to pay him and @ edu why comment at all….u were busy drinking coz u can’t believe how well Pf is managing Zambia..hold habits die hard..take it easy..ul drink urself to death
jobreaker
March 8, 2015 at 2:06 pm
meant old habits…my bad
New Educated Zambia
March 8, 2015 at 2:15 pm
And this is the man Lungu associates with and looks upto. How can we surely gain from close relations with this chap who has lost his usefullness in the region. Mugabe is just a figure that ego inflated african leaders use to stick it up to the western world. He is just been supported to make a statement to the western world at the expense of poor zimbabweans. Mwanawasa was the only sensible man who told this man the facts of life. Lungu who is supposed to be a lawyer and much more sharper than his former president, is behaving like a headless chicken. Vote UPND to ensure strategic partnerships with the right partners for the gains of zambia
king solomon
March 8, 2015 at 8:06 pm
HH stop disguising yourself as Nez.fight on the political arena openly. Not using ama DOT COM.swine.
New Educated Zambia
March 8, 2015 at 11:42 pm
kikiki do not flatter me by calling me HH. Please do not be personal and trivial. Give us data bane. You are in power now and yet still blank. ubukopo
chief advisor
March 9, 2015 at 4:18 pm
We should always remember that the upnd leader he wants to boost his business by enriching him self if we make mistake of giving him power. He has no ideas of governing apart from business skills 4 his personal benefits. He wil concentrate on his BUSINESS NOT ON ZAMBIAN people.