'Intelligent' Chinamasa wont be fired over bonus says Coltart

FINANCE Minister Patrick Chinamasa's chances of being fired for his civil servants bonus 'boob' are slim as it is highly likely that it was a well planned government move timed to coincide with his Washington visit - to show the IMF that the Zimbabwe government is serious about tackling government spending and debt, a former cabinet minister has said.

David Coltart said he doubts whether Chinamasa whom he described as an intelligent man who always followed Cabinet protocol will be sacked.

Recently, Chinamasa made a shocking announcement that government was suspending annual bonuses for two years.

That drew sharp condemnation from civil servants.

During independence celebrations, President Mugabe reversed Chinamasa's announcements saying he and cabinet where not consulted.

Said Coltart: "Poor old Patrick Chinamasa, Zimbabwe's Finance Minister, has been forced to eat humble pie by President Mugabe this weekend. Having announced that the civil service annual bonus would not be paid in 2015 and 2016 as part of government's austerity measures, Chinamasa was put down very publicly by Mugabe, who told the Nation that Cabinet had not approved the decision and the bonus would be paid."

"If Chinamasa acted without authority on such a major issue he acted grossly irresponsibly."

"As we have seen his announcement was met with alarm and despondency within the civil service - this was no small issue. In most governments a Minister would lose his job for behaving in this manner, but one can guarantee Chinamasa will keep his," he added.

Coltart said the bonus freeze was applauded by economists saying that whilst it was a tough call it was also the right one.

"It is hard to imagine that the tightly controlled ZANU PF propaganda machine would have acted in this way if there wasn't a broad consensus that this policy be implemented.

"One is left with the inescapable conclusion that Chinamasa is just the fall guy. Whatever the case, President's Mugabe's directive (the Herald's words not mine) leaves Chinamasa between a rock and a very hard place.

"In his statement today Chinamasa speaks about a ballooning debt within the civil service (eg Premier Service Medical Aid contributions not being paid) and government's failure to meet debt repayment undertakings, which he was hoping to address by not paying the bonus. He now has to source that money from elsewhere - but where is the question?

"President Mugabe's announcement this weekend, whilst Chinamasa was in Washington doing his best to woo the same community, will elicit a profound sense of deja vu in the IMF and World Bank.

"I have absolutely no doubt that Chinamasa timed his statement on bonuses to coincide with his visit - to show the IMF that the Zimbabwe government is serious about tackling government spending and debt. President Mugabe's statement will have driven a coach and horses through Chinamasa's attempt to get further international support for the government. Chinamasa will return from the IMF's spring meeting this past weekend in Washington not only with egg on his face, but with empty pockets too".