Mujuru rejects Mugabe's pension

FORMER Vice-President Joice Mujuru has reportedly turned down a government pension and retirement benefits offered to her by President Robert Mugabe, claiming she does not want to be politically tied to Zanu-PF, an indicator she could be ready to return to mainstream politics.

Mugabe three weeks ago gazetted pension and terminal benefits for former Vice-Presidents in a move widely believed to be aimed at "politically containing" Mujuru, who has been linked to a new political outfit, People First, which comprises ex-Zanu-PF members.

Mujuru cryptically said: "That's water under the bridge, nothing to tie me to anything."

She declined to elaborate further.

But her close ally, who declined to be named, said: "For her, the issue is on principle. She is not concerned about material benefits but the dignity that has been removed from her as a woman and a war veteran."

Sources close to her said she had spurned the offer as she feels "it's meant to tie her down to the Zanu-PF political clique".

According to the Government Gazette, which political analysts said was bound to have implications on Mujuru's political life, had among other things, a domestic worker, a gardener, two drivers, a private secretary, a close security unit officer, two aide-de-camp officers, an office, a Mercedes Benz vehicle and a colour television set.