via Fury as Bob holidays while wages unpaid – NewZimbabwe 27/12/2015
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe’s opponents have railed against the aged leader for temerity to fly out for a lengthy holiday abroad while civil servants who have propped up his government remain unpaid.
Mugabe, close family members and aides left the country on Wednesday for a ritual month long annual vacation in the Far East.
Behind him, he left a restless civil service that treasury has failed to pay its December salaries, let alone bonuses.
The increasingly paranoid leader’s government only paid salaries to the army leaving the rest to spend the Christmas holiday with no penny to their name.
His indifferent attitude has earned him strong rebuke from opponents and civil servants who feel the 91-year-old leader was too preoccupied with his own comforts and power to care about ordinary Zimbabweans.
PDP secretary general Gorden Moyo said he and his party were not surprised with Mugabe’s “selfish behaviour” and further urged his removal from the helm of the country.
“He has never been worried about the livelihoods and welfare of the people of Zimbabwe,” Moyo told NewZimbabwe.com.
“He has always been worried about his personal security, personal enjoyment and that of his party. It is upon the people of Zimbabwe, including the civil servants to wake up from this slumber that Mugabe would one day care for us.”
Moyo added: “All we need is to all get united and get rid of Mugabe and his lieutenants in Zimbabwe. He has always left the people behind, starving and dying for his entire 35 years.”
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe President Takavafira Zhou also felt Mugabe’s excursion was a betrayal to starving civil servants who have dutifully collected the same taxes that Mugabe flew out to enjoy.
“That is the greatest betrayal of a country by its president,” Zhou said.
“It shows the highest level of being inconsiderate. At a time when we needed him most, he is not in Zimbabwe, he is enjoying life with his family.
“We expected that before he could go on leave, he would try to resolve outstanding issues like salaries and bonuses so that civil servants can also enjoy the festive season with their families.
“The president has shown that he is individualistic. He is concentrating on his personal and family affairs to an extent that he can go on leave without solving these urgent national issues.”
MDC-T secretary general Douglas Mwonzora said flying out to enjoy tax payer’s money “summarises the irresponsibility which has become the hall mark of this government”.
“Given the economic meltdown and the flight of capital, a responsible government would not have taken a sabbatical and expect things to resolve themselves,” he said.
COMMENTS
Do Zimbabwean men have no balls? Now would be the time to revolt and make sure the whole corrupt family never returns.
It’s not a secret my dear. All Zimboz, myself include, are foolishly coward & moronically selfish. Nxaaaa!
@mapingu, so docile no one will move even a finger. All we do is analyse.
This time could be the time to join the civil servants as they strike and bring the regime down.
The current situation is such that the regime has no money even for the January salaries because there is no revenue stream.
In the past they would have got Fidelity printers into overdrive but not this time.
So if the civil servants do not take action now the regime will once again be having the last laugh and poking fun at its compliant citizenry.
Grace.
Robert?
Who said I don’t have balls?
Not you dear, Zimbabwe men.
So it’s not that old story?
No dear. Another Pina Colada?
That sounds nice.
Tsotsi you are so correct should Bob catch wind that there is an up rising he will not return for sure.
All Zimbabwean citizens should call for an election right now and elect an interim leader to lead government.
The rest of the world will come to help for sure it is a well known fact that Bob has been a dictator who has lost his marbles, at this point a gentle breeze would knock him out.
Every body in Zimbabawe complains about their predicament, but nobody, including Tsvangson, Ncube, Biti Gutu et al have the balls to walk the walk ie: take to the streets. Cowards, the whole lot of you. 2018 belongs to Mugabe/ZANU PF. Shame on you all.
To be honest, you need some white Zimbos to unite with the black Zimbos and overthrow the oppressors. But The Tokoloshe has brainwashed you all into believing “White Zimbo = Bad”.
But in fact it has been Zanooo = Bad for at least the last 40 years.
The army has been paid.
Bobs aeroplane landed back in Harare 30 minutes after midnight this Wednesday morning. Has Bob cut his holiday short because of impending strikes or an insurrection perhaps? Or is it because Air Zim could not afford to have a large aircraft sitting on the ground at Singapore for 30 days, plus paying the crew, leaving Bob and Grace to continue their expensive holiday without a quick safe mode of return travel? I think not. Who knows?
As mentioned, time now to let him stay abroad. Set up an interim Government and keep the peace at all costs. Let the people then decide their future in a democratic way. Establish the correct honest arbitrators in the meantime. This time try and elect the most passionate people to move the country forward, if possible. Now is your opportunity.
You are right Yayano. All we do is analyse. I am really tired of predictions, assumptions abs analyses when all that is required is to take action and everyone be on the streets to say no more
Blah blah, blah
We will sit and do nothing, it seems all we do is complain, while our leaders squash us like ants.
The opposition do less, always talk of marching the streets, until the first police and army arrive, then like cowards run to their homes.
Sad but we will live like this till this man dies
Careful what you wish for! Milton Obote was replaced by Idi Amin.
Mugabe does what he wants-35 years and counting. Why? Because he can! No one is going to do anything about it. The most that will happen is people being ‘furious’
We, in the diaspora are the cause of this shiftlessness. Our free loader relatives are not worried a bit about their future, they know you and I are going to feed them, pay their bills and break our backs to help them with their children’s education. All they have to do is make that desperate after midnight call and we will be heading to Weatern Union the following morning. So let Bob and family enjoy their vacation. Guess what? When they return it will be time for the big birthday bash – and Bob is making “every minute count”. As we are divided on tribal and racial lines, our misery will never come to an end, and Bob knows it.
I remember long ago when they had the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting – a few presidents and prime ministers recived phone calls saying, “Don’t both to come home. You have been replaced.”