HARARE - Despite his lavish lifestyle and the voracious spending habits of his shopaholic wife Grace, president Robert Mugabe's official salary is pegged at.....US$300 a month, ***The Zimbabwean has learnt.
Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara revealed this during a meeting with business leaders here last week, as he implored them to ensure that the anticipated rapid economic growth in the country over the next couple of years delivered real incomes to ordinary people.
“Yes the shops are full but people don’t have money. If President Mugabe is earning US$300 per month, how is the rest of the civil service faring?” Mutambara said.
Mugabe’s earnings are virtually a state secret in Zimbabwe. Observers say despite the poor performance of the economy, Mugabe and his inner circle insist on lifestyles and benefits comparable or even surpassing those of leaders of developed countries.
For example, to circumvent travel restrictions imposed by Western countries on Mugabe and his cronies, Grace now flies top clothes designers and shoe-makers in from countries like France, all at taxpayers’ expense.
The bankrupt national airliner Air Zimbabwe has been forced to introduce a regular flight to Dubai to get the Mugabes supplies of Western goods. Mugabe and his henchmen also routinely embark on shopping sprees in neighbouring South Africa as well as Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. Funds for the trips are looted from the Reserve Bank, one of the reasons why Mugabe has refused to let go of Gideon Gono, the governor who has facilitated transfers of public funds to the ageing despot’s private bank accounts and those of his relatives abroad.
Post published in: News