Govt speaks on Mugabe's retirement package

Secretary for Media, Information and Broadcasting Services Mr George Charamba denied reports that former President, Robert Mugabe got US$10 million plus other retirement benefits as a precondition for his resignation.

Charamba said that Mugabe’s retirement package is yet to be worked out by the Civil Service Commission will be in terms of the Constitution. Said Charamba:

The military were not a substitute for civilian authority. They never intended to overthrow Constitutional authority. So, you cannot then suggest that they were cutting deals with the outgone President without implying that they were now the new Constitutional authority of the land, but, more importantly, without also implying that they had overthrown the Constitution, which is a matter of fact, stipulates the entitlement of a sitting President when he retires.

The package of the former President will be in terms of the laws of the land and will be worked out by the Civil Service Commission, not by generals, not by negotiators, not by the previous Head of State. After all, we are not in a unique position by way of having a retired Statesman or President. We had that experience towards the end of the 1980s when President Banana retired. A package was done for him in terms of the law.

More: Sunday Mail