Zimbabwean Retirement Benefits: Ousted Mugabe to Receive $10Mln Payoff - Reports

Former Zimbabwe leader Robert Mugabe and his family have been notorious for their lavish spending and luxurious lifestyle amid the extreme poverty that most of Zimbabwe’s citizens face.

Last week, 93-year-old Mugabe, who had been serving both as president and prime minister for over 30 years, and his guards were confined to his house by soldiers. The country's ruling party, Zimbabwean African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF), dismissed Mugabe from his post as party leader and called on him to resign from the presidency. On Tuesday, the Zimbabwean parliament approved Mugabe's impeachment, after which the leader stepped down.

Meantime, The Guardian newspaper reported, citing one senior ruling party official privy to the matter, that Zimbabwe's ex-President may receive some $10 million as part of the alleged deal on his resignation from the country’s government.

Inside Robert & Grace Mugabe's $10m, 25 bedroom, 44 acre property in Harare, #Zimbabwe. This extravagant property with state of the art security system is decked with marble floors, expensive chandeliers & a swimming pool. No wonder he didn't want to leave!!! #Mugabe pic.twitter.com/EUxuw4sW79

— Olaudah Equiano® (@Uruokpala) 22 ноября 2017 г.

According to the newspaper’s source, the former leader will receive an immediate “cash payment of $5 million”, while the remaining sums would be transferred over the coming months.

Moreover, Mugabe will continue to receive an annual salary of $150,000 until his death, while his wife Grace, aged 52, will inherit half of that salary for the rest of her life after her husband passes away, the newspaper reported.

Zimbabwe’s government will also cover Mugabe’s medical care, security and foreign travel costs. The couple will continue to reside in the so-called Blue Roof mansion.

In addition, the former president and his family, which is reported to have a lot of business interests and property in the African country, will be immune from prosecution.

Opposition lawmakers have strongly condemned the alleged agreement with the former leader, deeming it “unconstitutional.”

“We are not privy to any deal reached with Mugabe, and if there is any deal on money or anything else it is unconstitutional… In terms of the constitution Mugabe is a retired president and does not have immunity from criminal or civil wrongdoing committed while in office," Douglas Mwonzora, secretary general of the leading opposition Movement for Democratic Change, said, as quoted by The Guardian.