via Youths to demonstrate against Mphoko’s stay in hotel – NewsDay Zimbabwe November 23, 2015
THE Democratic Assembly for Restoration and Empowerment (Dare) plans to demonstrate against Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko this week over his continued stay at a five-star hotel at taxpayers’ expense.
BY OBEY MANAYITI
Mphoko is close to clocking a year at a top hotel, as the government tries to secure “appropriate” accommodation for him since his appointment last December.
Dare youth wing said it will also hand in a petition after the demonstration, to show disgust at what it termed senseless spending?
“As the Dare youth movement, we have to exercise our constitutional right of petitioning and demonstrating against the VP,” Elvis Mugari, the president of the youth movement said.
“We are saying the VP must vacate that five-star hotel with his grandchild because he is living lavishly, while the general public is suffering and finding it difficult to have food on their table.
“Quite a huge amount of taxpayers’ money has been spent on him, yet the country is in comatose, ravaged by incessant power cuts affecting every sector, unemployment, poor health facilities, poor investments among challenges,” he said, adding that there was strong mobilisation for participation in the demonstration.
Mphoko has been under pressure from various quarters over his continued stay at a hotel, at a time the government is struggling to meet its obligations.
The government was expected to start paying bonuses to civil servants last week, but failed to do so to members of the uniformed forces, as previously announced due to financial constraints.
There was an outcry in Parliament recently when MPs demanded VP Emmerson Mnangagwa to explain why his counterpart continued to stay at a luxurious hotel. Mnangagwa assured legislators that the government was working hard to ensure Mphoko gets a house.
Efforts to get an update on the government’s position regarding the issue from Information minister Christopher Mushowe were fruitless as his mobile went unanswered.
COMMENTS
Youths, lets say his stay costs 1000$ per month.Your individual contrubition as a Taxpayer is 0,0000….01 cent.There are simple people working there, cleaning the appartment,washing the clothes ,cooking food…etc. Getting paid and feeding their families.So what is the problem. It is not like all the 1000$ is going direct into the hotel managers pocket.
Jane , don’t be daft please , the point is abuse of public funds. And where have you ever seen a five star hotel for $33 a night?
Try more like $100/night per person. Just include spouse. This comes to $6000.00 per month. Which could provide a very nice rented house for $3000.00.
Do you see. Half price. Not wasting tax payers monies. Its the principal stupid not the functionality of it. Government is meant to cuts costs when it has no money and when it does spend it on the people. NOT THEMSELVES IN EITHER CASE.