Former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko is fighting the President Emmerson Mnangagwa administration over his pension, which he has not received to date.

The local Daily News reports that the government is insisting that Mphoko must not enjoy full benefits because he did not serve a full term. Mphoko served under former President Robert Mugabe before he was ousted in a coup.

Mphoko’s lawyers, Mphoko’s lawyer said that the government, through the ministry of Justice, had opened up channels of communication over the pension issue, but was refusing to award the former vice president full benefits.

“We have been communicating back and forth, the communication we have so far with the ministry of Justice through the advice of the Attorney-General is that they appear to be conceding that he (Mphoko) is entitled to his pension but continue to dispute his entitlement to other benefits like security, office and others,” Ncube said.

The respected lawyer said part of the argument being raised by the government was that Mphoko did not deserve to get some of his terminal benefits since he did not complete his full term as the country’s second-in-charge.

In December last year, Mnangagwa gazetted retirement benefits to be enjoyed by a former president of Zimbabwe.

In terms of vice presidents, Statutory Instrument 86 of 2015 states that a VP who served at least one term in office can enjoy exit packages such as a security officer, two drivers, and domestic workers.

It is this clause that has somehow created the bone of contention as it assumes that Mphoko does not qualify for the benefits since he did not serve a full term.

Mphoko assumed the VP post in 2014 and lost his job in November last year under popular pressure following a military takeover, almost two years short of a full five-year term.

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