US$4 million for Mphoko mansion: Zimbabweans criticise government

Robert Mugabe’s government has secured a new mansion for Vice President, Phelekezela Mphoko  to the tune of an estimated  US$4m.

This amount is equivalent to 0.1% of Zimbabwe’s 2016 National Budget.

While Some African countries are moving to cut government expenditure Zimbabwean government is doing otherwise.

Tanzania’s new President John Magufuli has displayed unusual zeal for austerity and impatience with corruption and waste since taking office a month ago.

Since taking office in early November, Magufuli has cancelled foreign travel for officials, banned the purchase of first-class air tickets — although the president, his deputy and prime minister are exempt — ordered that government meetings and workshops be held in government buildings rather than expensive hotels, and cut a bloated delegation of 50 people set to tour Commonwealth countries to just four, reports eNCA

This has not served as a case study for the penniless Zimbabwean government, which continues to drain the already strained fiscus by exuberantly spending unnecessarily on luxurious things.

According to Local media government has finally secured a $4 million house for him in Harare’s plush Grange suburb.

“Local Government ministry permanent secretary George Mlilo yesterday said the government had finally secured a house for Mphoko, although he declined to reveal its location and value,” reports Newsday

The country’s citizens disagree and are tweeting other ways to spend the cash.

VP gets $4m mansion – proof that patience pays. He wanted a mansion. He is getting a mansion @nqobani_nyathi @MgciniNyoni @zenzele @263Chat

— The Taking (@RaisedonB) December 9, 2015

@263Chat @NewsDayZimbabwe @ProfJNMoyo is this a mansion valued at 4m or they actually purchased a mansion for 4m recently ?? — Grootvlei (@munya_eddie) December 9, 2015

@RaisedonB @263Chat @nqobani_nyathi @MgciniNyoni @zenzele staying at the Towers for 1yrs @ 700/ day would have been cheaper for the fiscus.

— Wezhy Netara (@wezhalo) December 9, 2015

@263Chat @NewsDayZimbabwe @ProfJNMoyo when 1 person out of an estimated 14million consumes 1/1000 of our budget that means we have a problem — tinashe mhondaz (@napoleon22nd) December 9, 2015

 

Honorable Mphoko went from ambassador to VP real quick, a 4mil mansion is just a signing bonus @263Chat #Zim_pole_eat_it — tinashe mhondaz (@napoleon22nd) December 9, 2015

@RaisedonB @MgciniNyoni @zenzele @263Chat We are led by a savage gang of criminals disguised as politicians.From the senile one to henchman. — Nqobani Nyathi (@nqobani_nyathi) December 9, 2015

So what happens if Mphoko is not VP in 2018. Will he still keep the mansion? Just curious. @zenzele @kgosinyathi @nqobani_nyathi @263Chat

— The Taking (@RaisedonB) December 9, 2015

What a humble VP we have in @mphoko. A modest $4 million mansion in a country that allows one to loot diamonds at will. @263Chat — johnmokwetsi (@johnmokwetsi) December 9, 2015

@RaisedonB@263Chat@nqobani_nyathi@MgciniNyoni@zenzele the question that remains: who is going to pay for it?

— Nkululeko (@Jamela_Jamela) December 9, 2015