Ousted President Robert Mugabe is set to enjoy juicy retirement
package after it was approved by President Emmerson Mnangagwa. He will
get a residence, a car fleet and private air travel and other retirment
package to be funded by the government.
According to The Herald Zimbabwe,
President Mnangagwa yesterday gazetted pension and retirement benefits
published in a Statutory Instrument of an Extraordinary Government
Gazette in terms of Presidential Pension and Retirement Benefits
(Services and Facilities for Former Presidents) Notice, 2017.
Former President Robert Mugabe is expected to be the inaugural beneficiary of the entitlements.
“A former President of Zimbabwe, who has at any time since the
31st December 1987, been President of Zimbabwe for at least one full
term of office, shall be entitled to the use and enjoyment of the
following services and allowances,” read the notice.
Regarding staff, the regulations provide that there will be
security personnel as might be determined by the President but not less
than six, and to be increased by such number as might be determined by
the Head of State and Government whenever and for such period as the
need arise.
He/she shall be entitled to two drivers, two private secretaries
and two aide-de-camp officers or personnel assistance and two office
attendants. On office and equipment, there will be provision of a
fully-furnished office accommodation and a landline telephone and a
cellphone, two computers and such other office equipment and materials
as might be determined by the President.
Regarding housing and household, the former President will get a
fully-furnished official residence at any place in Harare. A former
President will also be entitled to a housing allowance to be determined
by the sitting President, or a single private residence acquired or
constructed on his or her behalf at any place of his or her choice in
Zimbabwe or payment of a lump sum equal to the value of the private
residence.
“In the case of the official residence referred to in paragraph (c)
(i) [of the notice] if the former President dies, his or her surviving
spouse, or if there is no surviving spouse, his or her dependent child,
must continue to be provided with suitable State residential
accommodation until (i) in the case of a surviving spouse, the date on
which he or she dies or remarries, or whichever occurs first and (ii) in
the case of a dependent child, the date on which he or she dies or the
date on which he or she attains the age of 21 years, whichever event
occurs first,” reads the notice.
With respect to private residence, the property shall be
constructed on land which in total may not exceed 5 000 square metres.
The residence, if it was to be built, should not exceed a reasonably
sized house with five bedrooms, a guest wing with three bedrooms, a
study, swimming pool, two guardrooms and two garages.
“There shall be employed in connection with the residence of
the former President (i) three domestic employees, and (ii) two
gardeners, and (iii) two cooks and two waiters and (iv) two laundry
persons,” read the regulations.
There will be an allowance covering medical aid contributions for
the former President, his or her spouse and any dependent child. A
former President, together with his or her spouse, will be entitled to a
diplomatic passport, first class air and rail private travel within the
country up to a maximum of four trips per year.
There will be international air private travel up to a maximum of
four trips per annum including the spouse if he or she accompanies the
former President. On transport, a former President will be entitled to
one sedan (Mercedes Benz S500 Series or an equivalent class of motor
vehicle), one four-wheel drive station wagon or equivalent, and a pickup
van.
An adequate number of vehicles as might be determined by the
President should be at the disposal of security personnel and other
staff serving the former President. Fuel costs will be borne by the
Government and all the vehicles must be permanently at the disposal of
the former President and be replaced after every five years.
Other benefits are entertainment allowance to be determined by the
President and payment of utility bills such as water, electricity,
telephone in respect of the office and official residence of the former
President.
Meanwhile, President Mnangagwa has set January 1 2018 as the date
on which the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act will
come into operation. The law seeks to clip the wings of the State
Procurement Board by decentralising procurement.