Government spending billions to house 3 governors in hotels in Matabeleland

By George Nyathi and Tererai Karimakwenda
08 March 2006

Billions of dollars are being spent by the government to house 3 provincial governors in luxurious hotels in Bulawayo. Although each of these governors had their own homes at the time they were appointed by Robert Mugabe, the properties were not deemed lavish enough for provincial government officials and accommodation was found for them in top hotels in Bulawayo. The 3 are Bulawayo governor Cain Mathema, Matabeleland South governor Angeline Masuku and Sithokozile Mathuthu of Matabeleland North. Our correspondent George Nyathi reports that the 3 have to commute on a daily basis from Bulawayo to their respective provinces. This means Zimbabwean taxpayers are being fleeced of billions more for fuel and travel bills, as well as subsistence allowances.

Asked whether this is a temporary arrangement to last until construction of their homes was done, Nyathi said this could go on for a long time because there are no plans yet to build them permanent homes. A nice house had actually been built for Masuku in Gwanda, the Matabeleland South capital, but it was razed to the ground after a senior government minister Paul Mangwana condemned it as "uninhabitable" for a person like the provincial governor.

One of the three, Mathuthu, recently caused a media frenzy after she was reported to be living a lavish lifestyle at the Bulawayo hotel. Mat South governor Angeline Masuku is reported to be commuting from Bulawayo to either Gwanda or Beitbridge, depending on which of the two areas she needs to be in on a particular day. Nyathi said his sources allege that Cain Mathema, the Bulawayo Governor, is using hundreds of litres of fuel daily to commute to his Tsholotsho home. Millions more are alleged to be paying for drivers as well as aides in travel and their hotel fees and subsistence allowances.

Nyathi said the major cause for this is that the ministry of Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development has failed to construct reasonable accommodation for the governors as there are no funds for such a project under its budget.