News / National
Mugabe parties with ministers
24 Dec 2015 at 09:52hrs | Views
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe hosted a lavish State banquet for Cabinet ministers, legislators and top Zanu PF officials at his official residence on Monday.
Mugabe's opponents said the merry-making confirmed his insensitivity to the plight of the impoverished Zimbabweans facing hunger and massive unemployment levels triggered by a poor rainy season, misrule and a comatose economy.
Mugabe left for Asia with his family on Wednesday.
According to a NewsDay report, political parties and analysts said Mugabe's decision to pamper his lieutenants with a State-funded jamboree when civil servants and pensioners were yet to get their wages, also showed that the Zanu PF leader was now more concerned with retaining political power at the expense of serving the electorate.
"Mugabe is not at all bothered by the fact that more than 80% of the people are living on less than $1 per day," opposition MDC-T spokesperson, Obert Gutu said.
"This is the major reason he is always hosting lavish and expensive parties that are bankrolled by the near bankrupt Treasury. The Zanu PF regime is a classic example of a dictatorship gone awry."
Mugabe, justifying his decision to throw a party, told his cronies on Monday: "We succeeded in convincing our people to stand by us and accept these challenges as challenges to our nation together."
People's Democratic Party spokesperson, Jacob Mafume said Mugabe had exhibited a cognitive dissonance with the people.
"He has not given his government workers bonuses, he was in another extravagant party in Victoria Falls and ironically, he authored the problems that stole the Christmas cheer from the people."
Alexander Rusero, a political analyst said Mugabe, like many people, feared his party would disintegrate due to factional fighting and he has to thank his foot soldiers for holding it together till today, albeit with some internal squabbles.
"It is one thing for a President to prioritise the economy, but political power will surely come first. Mugabe has to thank his cronies for helping the party survive the titanic waters it is swimming in," Rusero said.
"The party was a gesture to thank his foot soldiers for loyalty. It is in the nature of politics to prioritise power. There have been open fights in Zanu PF, but we still have a leader who commands loyalty."
Mugabe's opponents said the merry-making confirmed his insensitivity to the plight of the impoverished Zimbabweans facing hunger and massive unemployment levels triggered by a poor rainy season, misrule and a comatose economy.
Mugabe left for Asia with his family on Wednesday.
According to a NewsDay report, political parties and analysts said Mugabe's decision to pamper his lieutenants with a State-funded jamboree when civil servants and pensioners were yet to get their wages, also showed that the Zanu PF leader was now more concerned with retaining political power at the expense of serving the electorate.
"Mugabe is not at all bothered by the fact that more than 80% of the people are living on less than $1 per day," opposition MDC-T spokesperson, Obert Gutu said.
"This is the major reason he is always hosting lavish and expensive parties that are bankrolled by the near bankrupt Treasury. The Zanu PF regime is a classic example of a dictatorship gone awry."
Mugabe, justifying his decision to throw a party, told his cronies on Monday: "We succeeded in convincing our people to stand by us and accept these challenges as challenges to our nation together."
People's Democratic Party spokesperson, Jacob Mafume said Mugabe had exhibited a cognitive dissonance with the people.
"He has not given his government workers bonuses, he was in another extravagant party in Victoria Falls and ironically, he authored the problems that stole the Christmas cheer from the people."
Alexander Rusero, a political analyst said Mugabe, like many people, feared his party would disintegrate due to factional fighting and he has to thank his foot soldiers for holding it together till today, albeit with some internal squabbles.
"It is one thing for a President to prioritise the economy, but political power will surely come first. Mugabe has to thank his cronies for helping the party survive the titanic waters it is swimming in," Rusero said.
"The party was a gesture to thank his foot soldiers for loyalty. It is in the nature of politics to prioritise power. There have been open fights in Zanu PF, but we still have a leader who commands loyalty."
Source - NewsDay
