MINISTERS from the three main parties in the coalition government are demanding exit packages consisting of houses in leafy suburbs, residential stands and top-of-the-range vehicles which they want delivered before the government of national unity (GNU)’s tenure ends in June.
Staff Writer
Zimbabwe has a bloated cabinet comprising President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, one vice-president after the recent death of John Nkomo, two deputy prime ministers and 35 cabinet ministers. There are also six ministers of state and 18 deputy ministers who are all expecting a “golden handshake” before they leave office.
The exit packages would cost the bankrupt Treasury millions of dollars in hard currency.
In addition, MPs are also pressing for vehicles, claiming the ones they were given at the beginning of their current tenure are now in bad shape, especially after taking a battering during the constitution-making exercise.
Most legislators hired out their vehicles to Copac and were paid for the services. MPs are also demanding residential stands.
The House of Assembly started off with 210 legislators, but that number is now down to 190 because of deaths and suspensions. The senate had 93 members, a third of them unelected, among them 10 chiefs, 10 governors and those appointed by the principals. There are now 80 left.
Mugabe, in consultation with premier Morgan Tsvangirai, is expected to proclaim election dates soon, which would mark the end of the inclusive government.
Cabinet ministers — who made a fuss about cars when they came into office four years ago — are, however, demanding golden handshakes before leaving office and have in recent high profile government meetings, including cabinet, pressed Mugabe to ensure their demands are met.
“It seems the ministers are drawing strength from the fact that they know the GNU built houses for Tsvangirai, the vice-presidents and the deputy prime ministers.
“The ministers’ demands are likely to leave the fiscus drained if they are met and raise questions on the government’s priorities,” a source said.
Zanu PF, MDC-T and MDC-M/N, all you guys are cut from the same cloth. It is all about Self Interest, no one is interested in SERVING the starving and down trodden masses of Zimbabwe.
You deserve nothing what you have is more than enough, actually you don’t deserve what you have a batch of incompetents go to hell.
There is no merit to their claim. They are in a better position to know Zimbabwe is bankrupt. Civil servants are being denied the same after all.
i hope my zimbabweans friends are watching this, its not about zanu pf or mdc and its various versions. Power corrupts , what we need is institutionalised democracy, a good constituion and vibrant media
Normally I don’t learn article on blogs, but I would like to say that this write-up very pressured me to check out and do so! Your writing style has been surprised me. Thanks, very nice article.
I hope this is a joke and we will all laugh our socks off..if on the other hand this is true then we as voters should really show these guys the middle finger by doing our utmost to kick them out and follow the paper trail on all their transgressions while they were in office serving themselves, this while the nation was comatose..UNBELIEVABLE! Have they no shame?
yes give them all that they want so that none of them bothers to contest the next election because they will know that they will have milked the country dry
Fuck you all thieves. Civil servants are not getting any salary adjustments and you want these luxuries. MDC-T your Biti shot you in the arm by not paying civil servants well. To hell with you
Ava vanhu vanondishamisa, i hope they dont get anything!!!! Cry my beloved country!!!
to hell with MDC T and Zanu PF
no party must be allowed to get the outright majority it`s a banch of thieves there is no difference between Zanu PF and MDC T
Vanhu Hwee zivai kuti tatungamirwa nembvha, nhubu, nharadada vuyezve vanhu vanamakaro. Kana munhu achitikirira mamwe maparty achisiiya MDC (N) haasi kuhwisissa. Mazivhanhu aya anerimwe rokuzvifumisa voga nemari yenyika. Kudopenga chaiko vuyezve zvinigwadza nekuti matongero avo avurayz nyika, tava nezhara, hatina mabasa,zvipatara, zvikoro kana zvekudya chaizvo. Akaiti vaite maMP kanamaMinister ndiani? Ko mota, mari nemabenefits avanga vachipanana? Vanoda kurobwa. Mazipenzi evanhu. Gwendo guno tonotarira munhu arikucampainer kuti akamira sei kuti tovhotere vanhu vanemusoro kwete zvekungotevera maParty. Varikunditsamwisa vanhu ivava.