Former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko will get a paltry USD 17 000 equivalent or less if he receives it later. Mphoko is currently locked in a pension and benefits fight with the Emmerson Mnangagwa government after he was removed after a coup that happened in November 2017.
Mphoko is claiming he is entitled to receive USD 320 000 as his pension. He wants his pension paid in United States Dollars since he was removed from his post during the multi currency era.
Secretary to the President and Cabinet Misheck Sibanda cleared the air on the claims being made by the former ZIPRA cadre.
“We do not know where Mphoko is getting the figure from. As far as we a concerned he will receive a pension entitled to him and we are not sure where he is getting USD 320 000. I have asked for the computation of his pension and benefits and he is going to get $765 706.58. He will not get USD because we all know the changes that were brought by the movement from the multi currency regime,” Sibanda said.
Mphoko’s rise to prominence
Mphoko rose to prominence soon after his appointment on 10 December 2014 and his subsequent swearing in on 12 December. He was an unlikely candidate given he was not the most senior ZIPRA cadre to fill in the vice presidency position. There were more senior former members of ZAPU such as Dumiso Dabengwa and Simon Khaya Moyo. He was selected for his passivity and lack of ambition political analysts believed. He did not challenge Mugabe during his time as Vice President but endorsed Mugabe’s succession plan and worked with former First Lady Grace Mugabe to take power from the ZANLA war veterans who constitute the majority of ZANU PF leadership. Mphoko joined the civil service in 1981 hence he is entitled to a pension.
Mphoko might not get his pension
The former Vice Presient might not get his pension that has been due since November 2017. At the best he will receive it after it loses significant value.
Mphoko is likely not to get his pension in USD due to the hostilities that exist between the president and himself. During the peak of succession politics in Zanu PF Mphoko once called Mnangagwa to order and castigated him for fanning tribal politics. The public fallout happened after Mnangagwa claimed he was poisoned in Gwanda after which he was airlifted to South Africa for medical attention at the orders of then Zimbabwe Defense Forces Commander Constantino Chiwenga. Mnangagwa made claims whilst speaking at the late Shuvai Mahofa’s memorial service. Mphoko had been left as Acting President after Mugabe had left the country.