Professor Welshman Ncube, the lawyer for former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko, has revealed that the government is refusing to award his client his full benefits. The government is arguing that Mphoko did not serve a full term as vice president.
Said Ncube,
We have been communicating back and forth, the communication we have so far with the Ministry of Justice through the advice of the Attorney-General is that they appear to be conceding that he (Mphoko) is entitled to his pension but continue to dispute his entitlement to other benefits like security, office and others.
However, Constitutional lawyer Professor Lovemore Madhuku has argued that Mphoko is entitled to his full package. Said Madhuku,
He is entitled to his full benefits in terms of the law. It doesn’t matter how long he served. Even a person who has be a vice president for two hours qualifies for full benefits. The constitutional provision states that a president and a vice president, upon leaving office, are entitled to the same salary as the serving president or vice president for the remainder of their life.
Former president Robert Mugabe has also complained that he is being denied his terminal benefits.
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