Bankrupt parastatals fork out for birthday bash-(15-02-07)

get of raising Z$300 million for the function. Less than $100 million has been raised.
“We have already received the request and working on the budget, requiring about $10 million for the contribution as well as booking of adverts,” a source at the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) told The Zimbabwean.
Chairman of the ZESA board, Christopher Chetsanga recently revealed serious viability problems at the almost bankrupt power supplier.
Other parastatals expected to chip in for the birthday bash include Air Zimbabwe, the National Railways of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe National Water Authority, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and the Zimbabwe Omnibus Company.
Chairman of the fundraising committee, Emmanuel Fundira, said his committee would soon embark on a nationwide campaign to raise the required funds following the launch at the weekend.
Civil servants are routinely expected to make donations from their meagre earnings and donate towards the celebrations, which Mugabe makes sure to hold every year under the claim of raising funds for the Child Survival Trust.
A brainchild of former first lady, Sally Mugabe, the trust has ceased to be significant and many under-privileged children live in poverty on the streets amidst unprecedented economic mismanagement by Mugabe. Many children have dropped out of school.