I read stories on demonstrations against Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko’s long stay at Rainbow Towers Hotel.
By T.Nyandoro,Our Reader
The issue, however, is that State residences must after purchase be retained as national assets for use by incumbents of the time only. A Vice-President’s official residence is not as many people suspect, cheap to run.
There is for a start the 24/7 security to go with it, a dedicated domestic staff that includes a cook, two or three, house workers, gardeners, some messenger-cum drivers and the provisions bill — all probably under the close monitoring of a director of State residences.
It is a costly affair, perhaps more so than a long term negotiated hotel accommodation, as in fact, may be the case. Millionaire Nick Van Hoogstraten, a Rainbow Tourism Group shareholder, was once and may still be a long term Rainbow Towers resident for precisely the same reason.
In other words Mphoko compares himself with former prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who is still occupying a government VIP house. The Presidency owes an explanation to the nation on why that is permitted. Such profligacy should not be entertained. State residences and vehicles should never have been made part of the exit packages of political office holders, judges and senior public servants. This would be in line with best practices.
Removing these unacceptable, unethical and unaffordable perquisites from the public sector’s reward options is long overdue. There would never have been need for Mphoko to reside in a hotel if the trophy mania had not been introduced.
