FORMER Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo has described as “total cruelty” the withdrawal of former Vice-President Joice Mujuru’s State-funded benefits, including key staff.
BY OBEY MANAYITI
Gumbo, who now speaks on behalf of a new political grouping calling itself the original Zanu PF “People First”, said it was unconstitutional for the State to withdraw the benefits Mujuru was supposed to enjoy by virtue of her previous position as VP.
“The point is that this is cruel, it’s vicious and we cannot understand why people can disregard their own Constitution. We think it’s callous and unprecedented that this could happen,” he said.
“However, the people that we have (in government) can do anything. There is no longer rule of law, no more discipline and they can just do as they please.”
Gumbo said it was now up to Mujuru to challenge the illegal termination of her benefits.
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“This is absolutely up to the VP. She has a team of lawyers and I think they will take up this matter,” he said. Eighteen Mujuru aides were last month recalled by the Department of State Residence in the Office of the President. Six of them were reportedly redeployed to other duties at State House.
Mujuru, who could not be reached for comment yesterday, has since offered to retain at her personal cost 12 of the aides whose contracts were terminated on March 31.
Following her ouster from both the government and Zanu PF, Mujuru’s detractors have been working tirelessly to reduce her to an ordinary citizen in violation of constitutional provisions which clearly spell out the government should take care of the upkeep of the person who has held such a position in the country.
According to Section 102 of the Constitution on remuneration of president and vice-presidents, a person who has ceased to be president or vice-president is entitled to receive a pension equivalent to the salary of a sitting president or vice-president and such allowances and other benefits as may be prescribed under an Act of Parliament. These benefits may only be forfeited once the person directly or indirectly holds any other public office.