Former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko‘s daughter said the government is disrespecting her father because they don’t want to give him his benefits Newsday reports. Siduduzile even went on to say they were disrespecting Mphoko because of his tribe.
Siduduzile wrote this on her Facebook wall, after the government dismissed the former VP’s USD benefits and pension claims. Siduduzile said:
I just read an article by Misheck Sibanda about my father’s pension and besides the fact that they want to deny him what is rightfully his, in the article, he addresses my dad as Mr Mphoko
I have been asking myself why the disrespect, then I realised that addressing him as former VP Mphoko opens a can of worms because the title is stamped within the Constitution, making him entitled to his benefits. So, let’s act like he wasn’t a VP and let’s not address him as one so that we can take what is rightfully his.
How can someone who has dedicated more than half his life to serving his country be told he is not worthy. He was appointed by a legitimate Head of State, the late (former President) Robert Mugabe (unless you don’t recognise him either) and it is also documented on every official assignment he participated in locally and internationally that he was representing his country as the VP.
Whether you like it or not, he is former VP Mphoko. Stop disrespecting and sideling our leaders based on tribe.His contribution to his country is as valuable as any other Zimbabwean’s. Show that you have some respect for a former leader
However, the public service commission insists that Mphoko’s pension will be paid in local currency.
More: Newsday