ZIM PM Morgan Tsvangirai Splashes US$40,000 On Lover's Kitchen Suite Makeover
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai recently splashed US$40,000 on a kitchen suite makeover for his fiancee, Ms Elizabeth Macheka, whose well known for her penchant for a lavish lifestyle. Reports say the US$40,000 kitchen for the couple's Borrowdale home which was ordered by Ms Macheka, is just the beginning.
Tsvangirai and his fiancee got engaged about a fortnight ago and the speed with which the PM has been made to dip his hands into the pockets to spoil his wife-to-be has alarmed many in the MDC.
Investigations carried out by The Sunday Mail show that Ms Macheka purchased the lucrative kitchen suite at Tusilago Kitchens, located along Seke Road in Harare, last Monday. The exclusive suite, dubbed Memphis Cherry, was purchased for a whopping $35 600 and it is one of the most expensive brands sold by Tusilago.
It comes with lots of extras which could easily push the total cost to $40 000. Sources said Ms Macheka used cash to buy the suite on Monday last week before it was installed at the couple's house, at No. 150 Highgate, Borrowdale. It is understood that Ms Macheka told the contractors in no uncertain terms that the installation of the kitchen unit should be complete before she returns from her "honeymoon" in the US.
Reports say Ms Macheka, who owns a boutique in the Avenues area, was visibly excited about her new acquisition and indicated that she would spend even more on her bedroom units upon her return from the US. The PM's spokesperson, Luke Tamborinyoka, confirmed last week that his boss had gone to the US on a private visit to complete his annual leave which he had cut short because of a mysterious leg injury.
The Sunday Mail was silent on President Mugabe's wife, Grace whose shopping sprees abroad are legendary. She was a regular visitor to London before she and her husband were banned. The Mugabe's house in leafy Harare is lavishingly furnished with imported fittings.
But the government press is clearly gunning for Tsvangirai, scrutinising his every move. The Sunday Mail said while in the US, it is understood that the PM gave his fiancee an open cheque to spend as she pleases and this has not gone down well with some MDC-T leaders, both at home and in the Diaspora, who are accusing their leader of "living large" while the party is looking for funds in preparation for the impending elections.
A highly-placed MDC-T insider linked to Mr Tsvangirai's increasingly divided kitchen cabinet said: "I have seen all sorts of reports claiming that he (Tsvangirai) is completing his annual leave and others claiming that he just escorted his recently wedded son and, yes, all that may be part of the deal, but what I know for a fact is that he is going to celebrate his birthday in New York. This is a belated birthday celebration which initially he wanted to have last month.
"While, of course, he is entitled to have his leave and celebrate his birthday wherever he wants and with whomever he wants, the idea has not gone down well in the party because it is now becoming clearer and clearer that the Prime Minister is losing the plot and becoming more and more interested in his own personal pleasure than in providing leadership at a time when everyone else is talking about the looming elections.
"Any national leader who goes on leave to celebrate a birthday overseas the week when schools reopen has a problem and is not serious at all.
"One day you hear that Tsvangirai has married Locadia, 12 days later you hear he has divorced her, the next day you hear he has engaged Elizabeth and before you figure out what's going on you hear that he is off to America to enjoy his birthday with his new fiancee. How about party business, who is attending to it?"
MDC-T treasurer-general, Roy Bennett last week clearly showed that, as the man who scrounges around for the funds, he was fast getting fed up with Mr Tsvangirai when he wrote on his facebook wall accusing some MDC-T leaders of abandoning the people.
"Perhaps there are some at home who are trying to make themselves heroes and legends because they have something to hide? Some of those throwing stones at our
"Far from being heroes of the struggle, they are making love to Zanu-PF and living like kings. We are neither blind nor stupid," charged Bennet in a statement that was subtly aimed at the PM whose fiancée is daughter to Mr Macheka, a known Zanu-PF member. Sunday Mail
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