Mphoko to fight for his dues

Former Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko has hired Movement for Democratic Change leader Welshman Ncube, an advocate, to fight for his dues.

Mphoko was expelled from the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front on 19 November and lost his post when Emmerson Mnangagwa took over on 24 November.

Mnangagwa has just announced a hefty package for Mugabe which includes:

• Six bodyguards
• two drivers, two private secretaries and two aide-de-camp officers or personnel assistance and two office attendants.
• 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.
• a fully-furnished official residence at any place in Harare.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• international air private travel up to a maximum of four trips per annum including the spouse if he or she accompanies the former President.
• 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.
• 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.

Mphoko served just over two years as vice-president leading to speculation that he might not be entitled to a package as he did not serve a full term.

Constitutional expert Lovemore Madhuku, however, told The Chronicle that Mphoko was entitled to full benefits.

“He is entitled to his full benefits in terms of the law. It doesn’t matter how long he served. Even a person who has be a vice president for two hours qualifies for full benefits. The constitutional provision states that a president and a vice president upon leaving office are entitled to the same salary as the serving president or vice president for the remainder of their life,” Madhuku said.

Critics have said Mugabe’s package is too hefty. The country cannot afford it.

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