Fiscal prudence must never be replaced by emotional extravagance
The untimely death of the Zimbabwe Premier’s wife in a road traffic accident that evokes memories of the death of Christopher Ushewokunze, Moven Mahachi, William Nangana, Border Gezi, Brigadier Gunda and lately Elliot Manyika has plunged the nation into deep sorrow and mourning.
Unlike in the past when some of the deaths were celebrated nationally as God’s intervention to rid Zimbabwe of callous murderers who had terrorised the people for too long the death of the Prime Minister’s wife is being mourned as a great loss to a nation struggling to come to terms with effects of over 20 years misrule by Zanu PF.
There is never a time when death can be said to be timely but accidental deaths of healthy people always shock survivors to the core and reactions to the shock are known to ... have caused serious misjudgement and even suicide in remaining family members.
Susan Tsvangirai’s death has not only shocked the Tsvangirai family but the entire nation and in cases the SADC region coming as it does at a time when the experimental coalition government in which her husband is an instrumental figure is struggling to find its first footing.
She was a critical cog in that process and her envisaged irreplaceable family influence over the Premier’s untimely termination by way of a tragic death has left the country scurrying not just for explanations but more for possible gap fillers that would keep the Premier’s energy levels at the high she had elevated it.
The entire MDC party led by her husband is in disarray and badly needs to find solace in some divine intervention that will take up her place in their leader’s life.
Anything that can fill the void she has left will do at the moment.
Evidence of the despondency in the party can be found no further than the knee jerk reactions the Party is taking to ensure its leader who survived the fatal crash does not fall victim of whatever evil force was behind the death of Susan.
While his wife’s body is lying in the morgue awaiting interment and people are streaming in thousands to pay final respect and condolences the Party and family have agreed to remove the Premier from the emotional goings on unsure of the effects the accident has had on his physical wellbeing but more so afraid of the unexplained aspects of the accident and fears of what else could be in store for the Premier.
There is no doubt in my mind that the premier is made of sterner stuff than his followers ever imagined and he will live through the setback of the death of his wife with the distinction he has lived through the numerous attempts on his own life over political differences with Zanu PF.
He has never been in doubt about the dangers facing his family as a result of his indulgence in the dangerous terrain of Zimbabwe politics and his former wife had reached a point where whatever could befall her husband was acceptable as the work hazards of the political career her husband had chosen.
She only ever allowed herself to be exiled during the vicious pre June 27 madness that saw hundreds of MDC supporters being murdered in cold blood by Zanu PF thugs but was back with her husband as soon as a negotiated settlement deal was struck between MDC and Zanu PF.
The dangers to her life were always there yet she braved the threats to be with her husband. It is no exaggeration to say that her courage must have played an immeasurable role in persuading Party treasurer Roy Bennett to return from the safety of asylum in South Africa and join the experimental coalition government for the country that had been agreed upon in SADC mediated negotiations.
A fundamental measure of the courage that drove the Tsvangirai leadership of the MDC is his decision to stick to party principles in the face of adversity.
Nothing demonstrates that more than the 12 October 2005 decision to let the party split over disputed participation in Senate elections party grassroots had dismissed as a none event.
The MDC believes in the separation of Party business from Government business and the Prime Minister is on record as having briefed all Ministers in the Inclusive Government to replace their Party caps with Government of Zimbabwe caps as soon as they visit his office or are on government duty.
As evidence that the Premier says what he means, he left behind State Security and transport provisions and used Party provisions when he was involved in the accident that claimed the life of his wife.
He was on Party business and did not see the logic in abusing State funds under his charge for the purpose.
Despite the dangers posed to his personal safety he still found it proper to abide by the principle separating state property from party property and deserves to be saluted for leading by example.
The State is duty bound to provide 24 hour security to the PM and they were around when he was involved in the accident.
They provided the necessary backup and transported the injured and deceased to hospital immediately and that may very well have averted follow up repercussions to finish of the survivors of the crash.
We are sure MDC Secretary General was not speaking as the Minister of Finance when he criticised the government for inadequate security provisions for the Premier.
Which authorities could he have been accusing when he is the Chief Finance officer for the authority that is the Inclusive Government?
His statements were appropriate coming from a political formation in the coalition government but not the Minister of finance of that establishment.
If Hon Biti was speaking as Finance Minister we must hasten to correct him by reminding him that one of his critical tasks in this government is to monitor fiscal prudence of this interim government and set benchmarks for future thrift by government officials.
If the premier is entitled to visible police escort wherever he goes and was not provided he must address that through the relevant home Affairs Ministry and not by a plea to the public emotions which at present is very brittle.
Even if it was not volatile Hon Biti must be the first to acknowledge that he being the custodian of the Premier’s budget is better placed to resolve the omission by seeking official response as to the omission given financing provisions he has in place to cover the PM’s travelling, security and subsistence allowances.
We want the safety of the Premier and all leaders secured to the very extent we yearn for the leadership to ensure our safety is guaranteed.
The argument for police escort for the Premier is fine except that it has the potential to mutate into the paranoia that the security arrangement around the President has become.
The presidential motorcade is stupendous and frightening for every motorist who has had the misfortune to encounter it. It has not been sparred of accidents though.
Hon Biti must be fighting to reduce the Presidential motorcade to save taxpayers from the unnecessary costs they incur for keeping such a frightening security arrangement around the President.
Leading calls for introducing the extension of similar arrangements to the Premier simply because he has been involved in a fatal accident is the kind of emotional reaction the Finance Minister must be on the watch out for.
He should be reminding all Ministers and Government officials not officially assigned to represent the State at Susan’s funeral to desist from using State vehicles in their possession to attend the Funeral and further claim unjustified travel and subsistence allowances for attending the funeral.
That is the financial prudence we expect for him to instil in extravagant State officials.
We are sure that on reflection he will find ways to correct the notion that Party functionaries at certain levels in Government are entitled to State funded protection while on Private Party business.
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