Zimbabwe’s Members of Parliament (MPs) have reported going nine months without receiving fuel and other allowances from the government, leading to frequent absences from the House, reported <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/mps-claim-they-have-gone-for-9-months-without-receiving-allowances/">ZimLive</a>.
This issue was raised in the National Assembly by Rushinga MP Tendai Nyabani (ZANU PF) on Thursday, who said parliamentarians have been reduced to a state of begging as they struggle to receive their rightful dues. Said Nyabani:
<blockquote>
We must not be begging as Members of Parliament. If we were promised to be given something, then it must come right on time.
For example, if we are getting travelling allowances, and fuel, I cannot remember when we last received those allowances.
We are talking about allowances which allow us to go to our constituencies to reach out to our people. Should we continue begging?
</blockquote>
Nyabani also disclosed that MPs have not received their Constituency Development Funds (CDF), which are essential for advancing various programmes in their communities. He said:
<blockquote>
We want the whole country to know that the CDF amounting to US$50,000 that we were told and which we were supposed to be given has not yet been received.
</blockquote>
Marondera Central MP Caston Matewu (CCC) said legislators have begun to abscond from Parliament due to not receiving any payments since January of this year. Said Matewu:
<blockquote>
I want to stress that it has been nine months since we got our allowances. I am not sure about you (deputy speaker) but the Members of Parliament in this House have had nine months without any allowance.
That is why you see this House is half empty. It is half empty because sometimes most of us are now going into business, which is really killing the work of this parliament because we need to survive and our families also need to survive.
</blockquote>
Deputy Speaker Tsitsi Gezi opted to postpone her response to allow for consultation with the appropriate offices. She said:
<blockquote>
Your points have been noted but for today, I have no comment on that. We are going to consult so that we bring comprehensive information and adequate responses explaining the different points that you mentioned. I will not lie to you, but I want to consult and bring a concrete response next week but one.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

Zimbabwe's MPs have not been getting their money for nine months. They are missing in parliament because they can't afford to travel to work. They are upset because they need the money to help their communities. Even the money meant for helping their communities has not arrived. Some MPs are now skipping work to make money in other ways. The government promises to talk about this issue next week. MPs say they are tired of waiting and need their money now.

Government Fails To Pay Allowances To MPs For Nine Months

Norton legislator, <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Temba_Mliswa">Temba Mliswa,</a> has said while Members of Parliament (MPs) are grateful to have received <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2022/12/07/ccc-mps-say-us40-000-loans-are-not-a-donation/">US$40 000 housing loans</a>, they still expect their allowances that have not been paid since September 2022.
This is not the first time the welfare of MPs has been raised in the house of assembly, according to <a href="https://openparly.com/thank-you-for-the-us40-000-loans-but-our-allowances-are-outstanding-since-september-2022-mliswa/">OpenParly.</a>
In what has become a regular feature, local hotels last year turned away and evicted legislators over unpaid bills by the Zimbabwe parliament.
Furthermore, some MPs were said to be selling fuel coupons to augment their paltry salaries that had been eroded by inflation.
Speaking in parliament last week, Mliswa said Members of Parliament had not received their outstanding allowances from September. He added:
<blockquote>
I would like to thank you for the US$40 000 that we received as it is said that half a loaf is better than nothing, so I want to thank the Government for the disbursement of the US$40 000. 
On allowances, we did not get our monies, especially after coming from the Pre-budget Seminar. 
This was in November, so we actually thought that since we had Pre-budget in November, all the outstanding issues would be taken care of.
We then went on a break; there are field visits that are also outstanding in terms of payments.  The rate was 600 at that time and now it has gone to 1200, so we are merely getting half of what we were supposed to get.
</blockquote>
In response to the concern, the house of assembly speaker <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Jacob_Mudenda">Jacob Mudenda</a> enquired why the lawmakers had not engaged him in regard to non-payment of allowances.
Harare East lawmaker <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Tendai_Biti">Tendai Biti</a> responded saying they have been engaging through the Chief Whips.
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