Once a chef, always a chef

When President Canaan Banana stepped down in 1987 to give way to the Executive President eyebrows were raised when the state announced that the former president would be entitled to the equivalent of his salary until the term of office he should have served expired on April 17, 1992 after which he would be then be entitled to a pension equal to his annual salary.

Besides, the former president was also entitled to a government office, a private secretary, a domestic worker, a gardener, a cook, two drivers, a Mercedes Benz car and two television sets.

This, however, appears to be peanuts compared to the perks granted to the widow of former Angolan President Agostinho Neto. Maria Eugenia Neto has been granted five luxurious homes, four cars, a yacht and a generous pension.

She and her three children were granted title to two homes in the presidential palace grounds at Futungo de Belas, along with properties in the plush Luanda suburb of Miramar, Quinta de Sapu and on the luxury resort island of Mussulo.

The former first lady will also receive a cabinet minister’s salary in kwanza and a hard currency allowance of US$2 500 a year.

The family has also been provided a Mercedes 450, a Volvo 224GL, a Range Rover and a Datsun van. If they want to go out to sea they have the government-granted “Yate Dourado” yacht.

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