By Staff Reporter
IN a rare show of unity, legislators from across the political divide have expressed frustration over poor welfare stemming from late disbursements of funds, which hinder their ability to discharge Parliamentary duties.
Disgruntled Members of Parliament (MPs) voiced their concerns in the National Assembly Thursday alleging that they have gone for nine months without receiving their allowances.
Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) MP, Caston Matewu told deputy Speaker Tsitsi Gezi that the prevailing state of affairs is dissuading some legislators from attending legislative business.
“I want to stress Madam Speaker that it has been nine months since we got our allowances. I am not sure about you 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,” said Matewu.
“I implore you to get in contact with whoever it is to give Members of Parliament their allowances because I do not think we will even go to Bulawayo without our allowances.”
Members of Parliament receive stipends and vehicles from government to support their duties in various constituencies.
Additionally, they are constitutionally entitled to Community Development Funds (CDF), which they use to develop their areas of jurisdiction.
Zanu PF Rushinga lawmaker, Tendai Nyabani cried foul over late disbursements of CDF monies.
“I heard that US$50 000 was availed, I do not know whether my colleagues have received their US$50 000 already because it has been long since this has been highlighted and mentioned.
“I thought that with the challenges that are happening, the roofs that are being blown away, CDF was going to cater for that.
“Now, CDF has not been distributed. Firstly, what is the challenge and when can we anticipate receiving CDF? Secondly, 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 fuel, I cannot remember when we last received those allowances.
“We were told that there are constituency offices to be built for us in rural areas and I set up in place and all the modalities but now, it is quiet. I do not know whether there are people who want us to beg so that they do their jobs,” said Nyabani.
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