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| East/Subsaharan Africa |
| Bob Gets a Raise! |
| 2003-07-05 |
| HARARE (AFP) - President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe has had his annual salary hiked more than sixfold, while those of cabinet ministers and parliamentarians have also been increased. The state-run Herald newspaper said Saturday Mugabe would now receive 20.2 million Zimbabwe dollars (24,000 US dollars) per year, up from the three million (3,640 dollars) announced last year. I'd love to see his performance review! The increase is likely to provoke criticism in the country, which is grappling with high unemployment, annual inflation exceeding 300 percent, as well as widepread shortages of food, fuel, cash and medicines. I don't think this will make anyone's top ten list on reasons to hate Bob! But The Herald, which closely reflects government thinking, said that the president's pay hike "is still far less than what chief executives of most companies are earning." The paper this week ran a story saying that most top company executives in the country received monthly salaries of up to 10 million Zimbabwe dollars (12,000 dollars). But they actually do something for a living. According to the paper other goverment officials, including the two vice presidents, cabinet ministers, the speaker of parliament and governors in the country's eight provinces would also receive significant pay hikes. Vice Presidents Joseph Msika and Simon Muzenda will now be paid 18.4 million Zimbabwe dollars (21,800 dollars) each, up from 2.7 million. Cabinet ministers will receive 16.5 million Zimbabwe dollars, up from 2.4 million, while parliamentarians, including those of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) will have their annual pay packages increased to 11.2 million Zimbabwe dollars, up from 1.8 million. The new salaries were contained in an official government announcement published on Friday, The Herald said. Nice work if you can get it in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is currently in the grips of a severe economic crisis, with 80 percent of the country's 11.6 million people estimated to be living in poverty. The other 20 percent are government functionaries, green shirts and thugs. |
| Posted by:Steve White |