Prime Minister prepares for life after Inclusive Government

Sources close to Mr Tsvangirai said he was planning for life after the inclusive Government given unflattering surveys that have pointed to a Zanu-PF victory in the impending harmonised elections.

The mansion was bought for US$790 000, but was extensively renovated after the PM made separate claims of US$1,5 million from Treasury and the RBZ respectively for its purchase, prompting accusations of double dipping.

Reports at the weekend indicated that Mr Tsvangirai has since written to Government asking to buy the mansion, which is valued at US$4,5 million, being the amount of public funds spent on it.

His spokesperson Mr Luke Tamborinyoka yesterday said if his boss was to buy the property, its value would be way below US$4,5 million.
“The Prime Minister’s residence was bought by the State for US$790 000 and was then refurbished at the expense of the State.

“No evaluation has been done to ascertain its current value, but it cannot be at triple or four times the amount it was bought for, so I do not see where the US$4 million or US$5 million is coming from,” he said.

Government sources say the house was valued at US$3 million, but the asking price was put at US$4,5 million to include the US$1,5million Mr Tsvangirai reportedly received for renovations, but did not use on the house.

Mr Tamborinyoka, however, said the premier was entitled to buy the house if he so wished.
“The Prime Minister is entitled at law to buy that house, he has the right of first refusal.

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“He has not exercised that right because he does not have the money and the property has not been evaluated.
“It is his right and he can choose to exercise it or not to,” Mr Tamborinyoka said.

However, impeccable sources in the MDC-T confirm that PM Tsvangirai wants to buy the house at a massively discounted price though he hinted to his associates that he can meet the US$4.5million asking price.

Efforts to get a comment from Public Works Minister Joel Gabbuza were fruitless yesterday.
Political analyst Mr Goodwine Mureriwa said the premier’s actions were indicative of the rot in MDC-T.

“Tsvangirai and the people who founded the MDC-T were motivated by money.
“While they have been talking about corruption in the councils, it is something that starts from the top. They have been corrupted by the donor money they have been receiving.

“He is now preparing a soft landing for himself because he knows he will not win the elections. It is a shame that a person who is vociferous about accountability can prioritise self aggrandisement like that,” Mr Mureriwa said.

He urged authorities to look into the matter to ensure that public funds were accounted for.
“Government should ensure that if he wants to buy the house, then he reimburses the money that he received from Treasury and the RBZ first.

“Those are taxpayers’ funds that he received and it is clear that he abused some of the money if he bought the house for US$790 000 when he received US$3 million,” Mr Mureriwa said.

Early this month, CNN’s Connect the World anchor Becky Anderson told PM Tsvangirai that Zimbabweans were fed up with his leadership because of his public image and handling of public finances.

The New York Times weighed in on April 13 this year in an article titled “Tasting Good Life, Opposition in Zimbabwe Slips Off Pedestal”, saying “Mr Tsvangirai’s lifestyle has been the talk of a nation where millions live on US$2 a day. He has taken to travelling abroad with a sizable entourage, officials and analysts say, honeymooning in London and spending holidays in Monaco. He recently moved into a government residence that cost about US$3 million to build.’’