via My $12 000 salary not enough: Mugabe – NewsDay Zimbabwe March 6, 2015 by Phyllis Mbanje
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.
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.
COMMENTS
Mr. President, 90% of the population don’t have any salary because of your gross mismanagement of Zimbabwe due to incompetence and your hunger for power. For 35years you did not manage the country, but with 100% distinction managed to clinge to power.
With a salary of $12000 which you claim is too little, tell the nation how you have acquired your empire of wealth and how you manage the lavish pompous life style.
You compare yourself to African peers, can you do the same with democratic principles and rule of law! Can you do the same with the economy, transparency and good governance! Can you do the same with unemployment rate! Can you do the same comparison in terms of how many have left their homes and country and are displaced without conflict! Can you also do the same with regards to how many of your peers are within your age group and have ruled since their countries attained rule from colonialists! If you can not do the comparisons just shut up and milk the country dry as you already done with Marange / Chiadzwa diamonds. Pathetic stubborn as a donkey and pig headed old fool.
How much of a fortune this man has nobody knows. The only problem is that for him to talk such junk making the people of Zimbabwe like they are fools is mind shattering. He lives in a house that is not second to a Palace. He has acquired so much wealth that he does not even need the money he says he earns. He blows millions for his daughters wedding. Then his big mouthed wife has a cheek to say he is a poor man. There is no way this man would have let Mujuru make such a fortune whilst he remained poor. The man is a serial liar and he is not ashamed of it.
For what is a mean, vengeful, self-centered man, Zimbabwe has not suffered enough for having committed the unforgivable “sin” of humiliating him at the ballot box in favour of Morgan,; not once, not twice but three times. And that after “all that he did for Zimbabwe.”
Most of his words and actions should be seen in that light. Likewise, he has dragged ZANU PF, its 2014 Congress and the Mujuru faction through the mud for following suite, just as he punished the white farmers. Bile runs through his veins, cold bile. I suspect he chuckles to himself late into the night…
Let noone be fooled by this $12k salary talk and the moaning from Mugabe. The real salary Mugabe earns is the millions of dollars allocated in the Budget to the President which he does not account for.
This $12k is just a cover up. The guy allocates himself more money than millions of needy Zimbabweans in the Budget and does not account for any of it only to ask for more in the next Budget. What a ruthless dictator with zero feelings for the suffering of the masses.
What job does he do to justify any salary of any sort? This year alone what outcomes has he achieved in his job? Zero. Each passing day the country is getting worse and he claims a salary for that.
President salary of ZIM is 12000USD per Month.
Who has paid the trip for holiday spending time in East with entire family in a star Hotel where per head rent is 5000USD/Night per person. R U Joking. From where he got money to Built a super Luxury mansion for his family in Harare worth of 500 Million USD. 33years ruling with no zimbabwe development. People are suffering with no food. Who paid him to spend 10 million USD to his Birthday party. People are not watching him. People are catching him. Open your eyes and see clearly. Lay man can tell easily who is what. LIES & LIES
Absolute gargage. How can any educated person take this dictator seriously. He has destroyed Zimbabwe and that Is his legacy. Living in the lap of luxury while his people starve and the economy is in free fall. One day more in power is one day too long.
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.
Hi, Robert. Yes, the suffering has become unbearable. But 12 months ago you told us your salary was $4000.00/month so at least you got a a lovely salary raise. Who else can boast of a 300% raise these days.
Anyway… I just wanted to draw to your attention below the money that is actually being paid to your department by the Tax payer so that we don’t forget that enormous burden we also carry……
Massive jump in 2014 budget allocation for Mugabe ’s office: 10 January 2014
THE Office of the President and Cabinet is set to gobble a sizeable chunk of the 2014 budget after being allocated more than US$206 million, which is more than the combined allocations to the ministries of Industry and Commerce, Agriculture, Mines and Energy, which are key to the country’s economic recovery. This is about six times what the Office of the President was allocated by then finance minister Tendai Biti in the 2013 budget, who gave it US$36,3 million.
Govt authorises $400m budget overrun: 4 FEBRUARY 2014
HARARE – Government has authorised a $400 million budget overrun for 2013 through a statutory instrument. Patrick Chinamasa, minister of Finance and Economic Development, has drafted the Financial Adjustments Bill 2014, seeking to condone government’s $389 871 000 unauthorised expenditure for 2013. “If a government ministry or department spends money in any financial year in excess of the amount appropriated, or for a purpose for which nothing was appropriated, the minister of Finance and Economic Development is required by section 307 of the constitution to cause a bill condoning the unauthorised expenditure to be introduced in the National Assembly seeking condonation of the unauthorised expenditure, no later than 60 days after the extent of the unauthorised expenditure has been established,” reads a notice placed by Chinamasa on the latest Government Gazette. The office of the President and Cabinet gobbled $31 million in unauthorised expenditure. Although Chinamasa was unreachable yesterday to clarify why he was condoning the unauthorised expenditure, Vince Museve, an economic analyst, tore into government for its move to over look its expenditure outside the budget.
This is exactly the point @Grabmore. The $12k a month is a side show. The fact is that when Biti was Finance minister Mugabe’s office got $36 million but when Chinamasa was made Finance minister that figure jumped almost six times.
Mugabe’s office spents more than $20 million a month of which most of it is for Mugabe’s personal use since he doesn’t account for it. This is what all of us should be focussing on. To Mugabe $12k is pocket money and a distraction.
He’s sick this man he must go and rest.
Greedy dear leader. You want to die in office.
Wonders never cease what makes the complainant dream that Zimbabweans are pleased with the poor work perfomance and expected deliverables not recieved. If the conditions are so bad kindly leave office and see if anyone cares.
If you are not happy with your salary, just leave and go look for a job elsewhere. Kurotomoka munhu mukuru kusanyara.More than 6million Zimbos outside the country left because they were unhappy. Just take your whole circus team and swim in India ocean as pirates you’l earn enough. Ixhegu elingela nhloni.
No enough even when he fluttering like a fly here and there