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Dr Misheck Sibanda

Business Reporters
GOVERNMENT has directed heads of public entities to provide schedules of their salaries and benefits, but the reasons behind the move were still unclear yesterday. According to sources, the directive, by Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda, was issued to heads of public entities through their parent ministries.

“The letter from Dr Sibanda was delivered on November 28 to Cabinet ministers and it basically required heads of public enterprises to avail information specifically on monetary and non-monetary benefits for chief executives and fees for board members,” said a CEO with one of the public entities who requested anonymity.

“The letters, were, however, received on different dates, but the schedules were needed in seven days.”
While the reasons behind the latest development remained unclear, Government has in the recent past expressed reservations over salary scales for heads of public entities.

It is understood that while public enterprises were required to routinely submit remuneration and board fees schedules of public entities, but some institutions failed to comply.

Despite earning hefty salaries, with some getting better more than private sector executive, most State entities are struggling, with some said to be technically insolvent.

The directive comes at a time when Government has instituted investigations into outrageous salary and benefits of the suspended Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation chief executive Mr Happison Muchechetere, who was earning a salary and allowances totalling nearly US$40 000 per month.

This was despite the fact that most workers at the corporation had gone for more than six months without pay.
The broadcaster was also struggling to meet other critical operational obligations.

Mr Muchechetere, who became substantive chief executive in May 2009, is said to have drawn salaries and allowances approximated at US$2,28 million to date. Mr Muchechetere’s salary included US$3 000 as entertainment allowance, a US$2 500 allowance to pay his domestic workers, US$3 500 for housing allowance and US$3 000 as a general allowance.

Apart from this, Mr Muchechetere was also receiving unlimited access to fuel every month, five business class air tickets for him and his family to any international destination of his choice, three regional tickets and unlimited local air tickets every year.