A CROSS section of NewsDay readers yesterday expressed outrage over an opinion piece by Zimbabwe Media Commissioner and journalist Matthew Takaona about the $230 000 monthly salary for Premier Services Medical Aid Society (PSMAS) chief executive officer Cuthbert Dube.
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Takaona’s op-ed headlined: “Don’t judge Cuthbert Dube harshly” received a barrage of criticism.
He wrote: “To many, he is a villain. To others, he is a man whose immense contribution to the medical services sector is second to none. Indeed for one or two months Dube earned an unbelievable $230 000 in salary in an economy where the majority cannot spend a dollar a day. Before that his salary seemed to have had a bit of modicum of decency at around $60 000 a month.”
Takaona added: “However, the anger has been expressed without balance and this is a cardinal omission. But Dube has another side and in the name of journalistic fairness that side must also be told even if it doesn’t justify the salary.”
His thoughts were received with anger as readers attacked both Dube and Takaona.
But angry readers charged that Dube does not have morals and that he should be arrested.
With his monthly salary, Dube could afford to pay 500 teachers every month ($500 each); purchase 57 Toyota Vitz/Honda Fits every month (cost $4000 from Japan); pay for 75 000 soccer fans at Rufaro at $3 each and buy 10 houses in the capital Harare’s high density suburbs ($23 000).
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“How much did Dube pay you for that hogwash?” queried one reader.
Another reader added: “You’re lying about PSMAS. This is the electronic age; please do your research first before you write articles based on false premises. You’ve clearly demonstrated that you wrote this to protect Dube. Shame on you!
“Nonsense, complete nonsense,” another reader enthused. “He is a thief, plain and simple and he should be officially specified as a corrupt person, prosecuted and ordered to return every single cent he stole. I am ashamed to find journalists who defend such reckless, cruel, evil, inhumane acts of paying yourself half a million dollars of the public’s money while the majority of the public live on less than a dollar a day. Shame on you journalist. Shame, shame, shame.”
A reader who identified himself as Yini said he was not surprised someone found it convenient to defend such gross immorality.
“It’s the Zimbos’ way to turn the other cheek to gross corruption, theft and act of criminality under some misguided act of dullness. Shame on you author of the article,” the reader said. “Even (Nelson) Mandela with the immense contribution and sacrifice never earned that much. Cashbert should simply go and play for (Real) Madrid, Barça , Man United. He will be paid that kind of money without qualms.”
