News / National
Tsvangirai offers to buy his luxurious govt mansion for $4.5 million
21 Apr 2013 at 07:25hrs | Views
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai wants to purchase his luxurious Highlands mansion for US$4,5 million and also his official Mercedes-Benz vehicle.
The MDC leader is said to have approached Public Works Minister Mr Joel Gabuza Gabbuza offering to purchase the luxurious property priced at a whopping US$3 million. He was asked to make an official request in writing which he did two weeks ago.
The ministry advised the PM that he could only secure the house after paying the US$3 million as well as a further US$1,5 million which would settle a loan granted to him by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe for the purposes of renovating the property.
Although Minister Gabbuza last night said he is yet to receive official communication on the proposed house purchase, sources have told The Sunday Mail that the Prime Minister submitted a formal request.
Mr Tsvangirai's spokesman, Mr Luke Tamborinyoka, could not be reached for comment last night, but several MDC-T officials who commented on the matter expressed shock that their boss had that kind of money to spend on a house, especially now when his party is facing serious financial challenges.
An MDC-T provincial executive member who spoke on condition of anonymity said most party officials were disappointed by their leader's decision.
"The MDC-T is a party for change, but, definitely US$4,5 million is not small change."
Another top party official said Mr Tsvangirai risked alienating himself from the party "which is in dire straits."
"It is wrong timing to do such a thing. Why couldn't he wait until after the elections? After all, everyone knows that the party's finances are in a bad state.
The Highlands mansion courted some controversy for the Prime Minister after he was accused of securing two separate loans for the same property. He had allegedly received US$1,5 million from Treasury and another US$1,5 million from the Reserve Bank.
The MDC leader is said to have approached Public Works Minister Mr Joel Gabuza Gabbuza offering to purchase the luxurious property priced at a whopping US$3 million. He was asked to make an official request in writing which he did two weeks ago.
The ministry advised the PM that he could only secure the house after paying the US$3 million as well as a further US$1,5 million which would settle a loan granted to him by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe for the purposes of renovating the property.
Although Minister Gabbuza last night said he is yet to receive official communication on the proposed house purchase, sources have told The Sunday Mail that the Prime Minister submitted a formal request.
Mr Tsvangirai's spokesman, Mr Luke Tamborinyoka, could not be reached for comment last night, but several MDC-T officials who commented on the matter expressed shock that their boss had that kind of money to spend on a house, especially now when his party is facing serious financial challenges.
An MDC-T provincial executive member who spoke on condition of anonymity said most party officials were disappointed by their leader's decision.
"The MDC-T is a party for change, but, definitely US$4,5 million is not small change."
Another top party official said Mr Tsvangirai risked alienating himself from the party "which is in dire straits."
"It is wrong timing to do such a thing. Why couldn't he wait until after the elections? After all, everyone knows that the party's finances are in a bad state.
The Highlands mansion courted some controversy for the Prime Minister after he was accused of securing two separate loans for the same property. He had allegedly received US$1,5 million from Treasury and another US$1,5 million from the Reserve Bank.
Source - SM
