News / National
Mugabe promises traditional chiefs brand new cars
13 Sep 2014 at 06:23hrs | Views
President Robert Mugabe has said traditional chiefs will soon be receiving brand new cars of the make of their choice, and an allowance increase in response to their 'striking grievances' he has been receiving.
Traditional chiefs, who last had an increase in their monthly allowances in 2011, are currently earning $300 and have been pressing for a monthly allowance of $800, and vehicles.
On Thursday, in his keynote address to delegates attending the two-day 2014th Annual Chiefs Congress at Zanu PF Conference Hall in Gweru, Mugabe bowed down to pressure from the traditional chiefs.
He said the chiefs' grievances of transport and allowances were "striking", and could not be ignored.
"The striking grievances were of transport and allowances and I realised its true, the chiefs cannot stand by the road side and wave down (for a lift) like this (gesturing waving down for a lift, much to the amusement of the crowd)," Mugabe said.
"Even in ETs (Emergency Taxis) when people (in an ET) say (to the chiefs) you cannot sit here because this is my seat, and they refuse to stand up for the chief (to sit)."
Earlier on, and addressing the same gathering, the president of the Council of Chiefs, Chief Fortune Charumbira, had said that chiefs had last received allowance increments and new cars before inception of the inclusive government.
He said the inclusive government period was a 'difficult moment' because the party worked with an 'impossible and uncultured' people.'
Charumbira reminded Mugabe that they had 'helped kick out' opposition MDC-T and urged Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa to 'stop acting like Tendai Biti' and bring the chief's cars and salaries.
"We were last given cars in 2004, we expected some more cars in 2009, but Biti was a stumbling block," he said.
Mugabe revealed that government had actually 'agreed in principle' to award pay hikes to the chiefs, while promising that they would 'soon' receive cars they desire.
"Yes, you will get cars and what you should do is sit down and make up the kind of a car you want, it can be a Pajero, a Prado, or maybe some will say they want pick-ups.
"As for salaries, we agreed in principle that you should get money, but what is left probably is for us to agree on a figure, probably next week Monday," he said.
Besides pressing for cars, increases in allowances, land and other benefits, the chiefs are clamouring to be at par with Members of Parliament and other traditional chiefs within the Sadc region.
"Put all your grievances in writing and hand them over to (minister Ignatius) Chombo, and he will hand them over to me," said Mugabe.
Traditional chiefs, who last had an increase in their monthly allowances in 2011, are currently earning $300 and have been pressing for a monthly allowance of $800, and vehicles.
On Thursday, in his keynote address to delegates attending the two-day 2014th Annual Chiefs Congress at Zanu PF Conference Hall in Gweru, Mugabe bowed down to pressure from the traditional chiefs.
He said the chiefs' grievances of transport and allowances were "striking", and could not be ignored.
"The striking grievances were of transport and allowances and I realised its true, the chiefs cannot stand by the road side and wave down (for a lift) like this (gesturing waving down for a lift, much to the amusement of the crowd)," Mugabe said.
"Even in ETs (Emergency Taxis) when people (in an ET) say (to the chiefs) you cannot sit here because this is my seat, and they refuse to stand up for the chief (to sit)."
Earlier on, and addressing the same gathering, the president of the Council of Chiefs, Chief Fortune Charumbira, had said that chiefs had last received allowance increments and new cars before inception of the inclusive government.
He said the inclusive government period was a 'difficult moment' because the party worked with an 'impossible and uncultured' people.'
Charumbira reminded Mugabe that they had 'helped kick out' opposition MDC-T and urged Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa to 'stop acting like Tendai Biti' and bring the chief's cars and salaries.
"We were last given cars in 2004, we expected some more cars in 2009, but Biti was a stumbling block," he said.
Mugabe revealed that government had actually 'agreed in principle' to award pay hikes to the chiefs, while promising that they would 'soon' receive cars they desire.
"Yes, you will get cars and what you should do is sit down and make up the kind of a car you want, it can be a Pajero, a Prado, or maybe some will say they want pick-ups.
"As for salaries, we agreed in principle that you should get money, but what is left probably is for us to agree on a figure, probably next week Monday," he said.
Besides pressing for cars, increases in allowances, land and other benefits, the chiefs are clamouring to be at par with Members of Parliament and other traditional chiefs within the Sadc region.
"Put all your grievances in writing and hand them over to (minister Ignatius) Chombo, and he will hand them over to me," said Mugabe.
Source - The Zim Mail
