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 representative in the National Assembly, Themba Mliswa has defended the demands that have been made by MPs saying that since the other two arms of the state (Judiciary and Executive) enjoy privileges, Legislators are entitled to expect as much.
Mliswa said it is not fair to accuse legislators of greediness when others have it so good. He said
<blockquote>My view is that people representation should not be equated to destitution either should it be equated to self-aggrandisement. Overheads are incurred as with any other enterprise and being an MP is no exception, it is a cost centre.
In fact, even more so during these economically challenging times where even the most basic constituency requirements that naturally should be catered for by the government are not being catered for and the deficit needs to be addressed.
The Executive and Judiciary receive a Discovery Autobiography (off road), Mercedes Benz and a Ford Ranger. Ministers receive the same three vehicles against MPs who receive one for the full five-year term.
As I see it one good, a safe, tough and durable land cruiser is therefore sufficient for all if we refer to austerity, I’ll leave you to draw any further conclusions.
He added that they worked diligently while poorly-resourced much like the efforts of doctors, nurses and teachers.
The very same people that complain that their legislators are not visible should be mindful of the restrictions faced by their MPs. The areas that their MPs need to cover in the effective delivery of their mandate cannot be covered by public transport as has been suggested in some quarters. It becomes imperative that the motor vehicles issue be addressed.
Which brings us to the crux of the matter, what calibre of representation do people expect to have? Interestingly, I have noted comments raised that MPs should be people who have the personal financial capacity and who are able to debate and effectively represent their constituent’s needs in Parliament.
This issue is a point of some difficulty for me as I must ask – well, who voted for people without their choice of credentials in the first place? I will let it be known and stated for the record that I was attacked for bringing up what was deemed to be a ‘preposterous’ suggestion during election campaigning when I said aspiring MPs should have degrees and their own auditable proof of wealth and capacity in order to be allowed to run for a seat.
I have always thought that such criteria would significantly curtail corruption and would promote a servant leadership credo in the legislature.
If the collective grouping of MPs was to this standard, the categorisation of MPs into a different standard of resourcing would be done away with.</blockquote>
<h2>Related:</h2>
<ul>
<li class="entry-title">
<h3><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2018/12/28/mps-demand-increase-in-allowances-credit-cards-when-travelling-abroad/">MPs Demand Increase In Allowances, Credit Cards When Travelling Abroad</a></h3>
</li>
<li class="entry-title">
<h3><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2018/12/21/mps-force-mthuli-ncube-to-buy-them-land-cruisers-after-rejecting-mazdas-as-not-good-enough/">MPs ‘Force’ Mthuli Ncube To Buy Them Land Cruisers After Rejecting Mazdas As Not Good Enough</a></h3>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>More: <a href="https://www.dailynews.co.zw/articles/2018/12/29/mliswa-defends-mps-demands">Daily News</a></h3>

Members of Parliament Latest News

Latest Jobs