Ruling elite in Zimbabwe live it up as poor starve

While ordinary Zimbabweans wallow in poverty, politicians are living it up and even securing luxurious lives for the spouses of former presidents

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has passed a law that would ensure former first lady Grace Mugabe and her successors are set for life. The law applies only to the wives of anyone who has been the neighbouring country’s president since December 31 1987.

The former first lady will have a R1.8m car for personal use and can qualify for additional cars to be used by her staff as long as that is "seen fit by the president". The law also made provision for a full-time cook, a gardener, domestic worker, a driver, personal assistant, a fully furnished office and at least two security personnel, or more, "depending on the discretion of the president". 

Spousal benefits for former first ladies are a norm for many countries, however where do we draw the line? Should these be in line with how rich or poor the country is?

Trading Economics placed Zimbabwe's GDP at $21.44bn in 2019, while IMF data had ranked it the 26th lowest of 187 countries in 2017. The levels of poverty in that country has seen thousands of its citizens flee in the past decades to seek greener pastures in neighbouring countries and Europe. This year, teachers were reported to be earning about R1,700 a month.

That country's citizens can barely make ends meet, so couldn't the luxurious perks for presidents' wives be a bit more modest considering the economic situation on the ground? What does a former first lady need a nearly R2m personal car for? She can get a decent, safe car for less than R1m.

It is sad how politicians do not care about the masses they are supposed to serve or represent once they are elected into government. Just last month teachers downed tools and marched to the finance ministry to demand salary increases; imagine their pain when they read about generous spousal perks in the press.

As their leaders live lavishly, the masses are going to bed hungry as they battle to put food on the table for their families.