Mugabe’s Post-resignation Salary

Former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe’s Salary post-resignation still looks as attractive as it was when he was in charge. Apparently, Mugabe knew the consequences of allowing the impeachment proceedings against him to push through‚ thus he resigned. If he had been fired by the parliament, he would be left with no benefits among other things. This according to the Presidential Pension and Retirement Act’s Section 6 which stipulates that a former president can be denied pension if he or she leaves office having “acted in willful violation of the Constitution; or of gross misconduct.”  Notably, the charge sheet against the ousted president which was brought before Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda had allegations about Mugabe’s “serious misconduct”. Among other things, the 93-year-old veteran leader was accused of letting his wife speak about government business in public when she was not a cabinet minister, in addition to abusing state resources. Apparently, Mugabe had a day like this in mind when he drafted the constitution in 2013, making way for a luxurious retirement. Consequently, Mugabe’s salary will be the same amount of money earned by the sitting president. During an interview in 2015, Mugabe claimed to be earning US$12‚000 per month. The constitution also made provisions for his spouse in an event that he passes on. When that day comes, his widow would earn 60 percent of the pension. Section C of the Act reads: “To a surviving spouse of a person who‚ on the date of his death‚ was receiving or was entitled to receive a pension in terms of paragraph (a) or (a1) ‚ an annual pension equal to two-thirds of the annual pension which that person would have received or would have been entitled to receive had he not died.” The children will also get a third of the pension as long as they are under the age of 18.  Also, the former First Lady‚ Grace Mugabe‚ who was perceived to be eyeing the presidential seat will also get state-sponsored domestic help‚ air travel‚ office accommodation and an entertainment allowance. Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa will be sworn in as interim president on Friday while Zimbabwe is expected to hold fresh elections next year. This comes after former President Robert Mugabe resigned right before impeachment proceedings against him commenced after almost four decades of holding on tight to power.