News / National
Zimbabwe companies forced to sponsor Grace Mugabe's birthday bash
25 Jul 2015 at 15:15hrs | Views
ZIMBABWE's financially-troubled state-owned enterprises and parastatals are being forced to part with between US$35 000 and US$120 000 in contributions to First Lady Grace Mugabe's 50th birthday fundraising dinner.
A senior government official who requested anonymity said it was worrying how government expected parastatals to perform when they were forced to fund First Family events like President Robert Mugabe's birthday celebrations and Zanu-PF functions.
"You have parastatals being asked to pay between US$35 000 and US$120 000 depending on how they are rated. In a year, there are many of these requests to the same state entities," said the official.
According to The Independent source, the funds are drawn from mainly cash-generating parastatals such as Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara), Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra), Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa), NetOne and TelOne.
In an advert, the "Amai Grace Mugabe @50" organising committee invited individuals and organisations to deposit cash donations into a CBZ account under the name "Amai Grace Mugabe Jubilee".
According to the advert, the sponsors' package includes advertising space at the event, a five-minute slot on the programme for the major sponsors to profile their organisation, platinum branding for Grace's table, a seat at Grace's table and acknowledgement in the programme booklet, among other benefits.
State enterprises and parastatals have not been spared when it comes to contributing to this event, as some were given formal directives to make contributions to the programme. The entities continue to be feeding troughs for corrupt ministers and other senior government officials.
A senior government official who requested anonymity said it was worrying how government expected parastatals to perform when they were forced to fund First Family events like President Robert Mugabe's birthday celebrations and Zanu-PF functions.
"You have parastatals being asked to pay between US$35 000 and US$120 000 depending on how they are rated. In a year, there are many of these requests to the same state entities," said the official.
According to The Independent source, the funds are drawn from mainly cash-generating parastatals such as Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara), Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra), Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa), NetOne and TelOne.
In an advert, the "Amai Grace Mugabe @50" organising committee invited individuals and organisations to deposit cash donations into a CBZ account under the name "Amai Grace Mugabe Jubilee".
According to the advert, the sponsors' package includes advertising space at the event, a five-minute slot on the programme for the major sponsors to profile their organisation, platinum branding for Grace's table, a seat at Grace's table and acknowledgement in the programme booklet, among other benefits.
State enterprises and parastatals have not been spared when it comes to contributing to this event, as some were given formal directives to make contributions to the programme. The entities continue to be feeding troughs for corrupt ministers and other senior government officials.
Source - the independent
