MPs threaten to boycott House sittings over accommodation crisis

Harare- LEGISLATORS based outside Harare have threatened to boycott House sittings and other parliament business owing to accommodation crisis, Express Mail Zim has heard.

Some of the affected legislators who spoke to this publication, opened up that they cannot afford to foot accommodation bills at hotels and have endured embarrassment for unpaid bills.

“I cannot afford to pay hotel bills when we come for House sittings or commitees in Harare and I was embarrassed at Rainbow Towers when I was almost kicked out on the third day for accumulating bills. “It’s very unfortunate that we are being treated like that yet we are lawmakers who formulate policies,” said a Matebeland based legislator who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Rainbow Towers Group spokesperson Pride Khumbula could neither confirm nor deny the booting out of defaulting parliamentarians at the time of writing.

She however promised to respond after due internal processes assumably after consultations with her superiors.

MPs reportedly earn slightly over US$180 and US$25 is deducted by PSMAS for medical aid cover .

Early this year, Independent Norton legislator Themba Mliswa lamented over erratic payment of sitting allowances.

“I have a personal constituency in Norton which I run on my own.
“Just the rentals I pay are nearly a US$1 000.
“I have a staff complement which I pay nearly a US$1000 again.
” That is before other expenses such as Wifi and other office consumables.
” On top of that we have inflationary issues ,yet right now we are yet to be paid our sitting allowances since February,” Mliswa was quoted as saying in June this year.

In July, the Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda announced that MPs’ salaries and perks had been revised upwards by Finance minister Mtuli Ncube , but he refused to mention the figures.

‘’What I know is a substantial increase has been agreed to as well as an increase in MPs sitting allowances effective 1st July 2022. So, something has been agreed to.

‘’I think at the appropriate time, the Honourable Minister will make some pronouncements, not only for us here but for the entire State,’’ he said then.

This situation has seen some MPs from out of the capital resorting to book accommodation at low cost lodges that double up as brothels.

This reporter recently spotted one legislator from Mashonaland East (name withheld) checking in one such lodge located along Selous Avenue.

The dire situation has also forced some MPs to devise illicit contingent plans of survival including selling fuel coupons , carrying passengers along the way to the capital and diverting donated goods in their constituencies for personal use among other rent seeking activities.

It however boggles the mind , how Parly can inexplicably award tenders for ICT gadgets at inflated prices way above the market rate .

Treasury however raised a red flag and cancelled the deal that exposed the clerk of parliament Kennedy Chokuda after one of the suppliers’directors Blinart Investments piled blame on Parliament in an audio in Express Mail Zim’s possession. Chokuda was unavailable for comment at the time of writing Monday but he was at pains to explain the deal in a statement released last week .He registered his worry over leaking of official Parly documents to the public domain.