Zimbabwe chiefs to receive bonuses raising controversy

In a move that is likely to spark debate, Zimbabwe's traditional chiefs are set to receive bonuses just two months after they were gifted twin-cab vehicles worth millions of dollars. The decision comes at a time when the government is under pressure to cut public spending due to a tight fiscal space.

Public Service Commission (PSC) chairperson Vincent Hungwe confirmed to NewsDay that chiefs and their messengers would be included in the list of recipients for this year's bonuses. "They [traditional leaders] are part of the list [of people] who are going to receive the bonuses," Hungwe said, adding that further details could be obtained from the PSC secretary.

The bonus payout is expected to raise eyebrows, particularly because traditional leaders are not part of the formal civil service. David Dzatsunga, the secretary-general of the Apex Council, which represents civil servants, expressed surprise at the inclusion of chiefs in the bonus scheme. "We are grateful to the government for paying the civil servants their bonuses. However, I do not have authority to comment on traditional leaders because they are not part of us," Dzatsunga said.

Obert Masaraure, president of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, was more critical, accusing the government of using bonuses and luxury gifts to buy the loyalty of traditional leaders. "The idea of pampering traditional leaders and their messengers with luxuries but denying them the right to govern is ironical," Masaraure said. "It is clear that traditional leaders are only needed as accessories for power retention."

Masaraure condemned the allocation of limited financial resources towards bolstering political loyalty, instead of investing in productive areas of the economy. "Our limited resources should be invested in productive areas of the economy, including paying those who are genuinely contributing to make Zimbabwe work," he added.

The controversy surrounding the bonuses and vehicles comes after President Emmerson Mnangagwa's controversial decision in September to provide new 4x4 Isuzu twin-cab vehicles to traditional leaders. The move was widely criticized, especially as it occurred during a period of economic strain, when the government was struggling to raise funds for food relief for drought-affected communities. The total cost of the vehicles is estimated at over US$17 million for 237 traditional leaders, with each 4x4 vehicle valued at around US$70,000.

This decision has raised concerns about the government's prioritization of resources, especially as the country grapples with a sharp depreciation of the Zimbabwe Gold currency, which has lost 46% of its value since its introduction in April 2024. The fiscal tightening has led Treasury to direct ministries to cut spending for the rest of the year, focusing on wages and social service expenditures, while also reducing travel-related costs.

Critics argue that the government's lavish gifts to traditional leaders may be part of a broader strategy to ensure political loyalty ahead of upcoming elections. Chiefs and traditional leaders have been accused of pressuring their communities to support the ruling Zanu-PF party during elections, which some view as a violation of their constitutional duties. A policy brief by the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association released in June 2023 labeled traditional leaders as "willing enablers" of the ruling party's agenda.

The growing discontent over the allocation of public resources to traditional leaders amid economic hardships reflects the increasing tension between the government's spending priorities and the needs of ordinary Zimbabweans.