via ‘Relocate Parly to Bulawayo’ – DailyNews Live by Chengetai Zvauya 4 DECEMBER 2013
Members of Parliament have called for the relocation of Parliament to Bulawayo.
The lawmakers made the proposal after complaining of lack of sitting space in the Parliament building as male and female MPs are squashed uncomfortably in the august house during parliamentary debates.
Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga moved the motion. She was supported by MDC legislator Lucia Matibenga.
“I am proposing that in the short term to change the venue of sitting to Parliament to Bulawayo city,” Misihairabwi-Mushonga said.
Although officials are already hunting for alternative accommodation, 270 MPs will in the meantime have to squeeze into the National Assembly that was built to accommodate only 150 members.
The legislators said the current parliamentary venue does not provide a conducive environment for serious debate.
They said the move would devolve arms of state and bring Parliament to other centres in the country.
Joram Gumbo, Zanu PF chief whip, also supported the motion and asked for more resources from treasury to build a new Parliament building.
Gumbo suggested that Parliament be moved to Midlands province arguing it was at the epicentre of the country and could be the ideal province for hosting the temporary sitting.
Meanwhile, the parliamentary portfolio committee on Local Government chaired by Zanu PF MP Irene Zindi received oral evidence from Killian Mpingo, permanent secretary in the ministry of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development.
Mpingo informed the committee that urban councils urgently needed firefighting equipment to avert destruction of properties and loss of lives in the event of fire outbreaks.
“Harare, Bulawayo and Kwekwe cities are the only urban councils which have sound firefighting equipment and in the event that fire broke out in other cities countrywide, we have to rely on these three cities’ equipment,” Mpingo told the lawmakers.
“We are negotiating with ministry of finance to sign a bilateral agreement with India to obtain the fire equipment for all the councils.”
COMMENTS
WHERE IN BYO!
Wena wazingaphi?
Anywhere in Bulawayo. It’s big. Do you want to sell your plot for parly building?
what about back to britain… hee heee
You Munzwa think before you write or zip your mouth.Its not practical to move parliament to Byo for the following reasons-1- Byo is not situated in the centre of the country ,the ideal place is KweKwe which would make parliamental sittings cost effective.MPs would travel reduced distances.2- KweKwe has adequate water supply not Byo.3-Byo is the trade fare centre so it should not be burdened with politicians.Byo should be given its former status as Zimbabwe business centre like JBG in South Africa.These young politicians make suggestions without through thinking and considerations.
Personally I prefer it in Gweru, Midlands. The infrastructure is already there. Kwekwe is too small and does not have the extent of hotel facilities that Gweru has.
What I have never understood about Zimbabwe is why there is so much resistance to decentralising governance and institutions around the country; what exactly if the reason for this resistance?
I have never seen such resistance in South South Africa. Even the holding of social occasions, big meetings and football tournaments in other parts of the country, Bulawayo in particular is highly resistated, mara why?
Ko BULAWAYO HATSHI BO,No, no, no not all those idiots crowding in our beatiful Byo. Seeing those fatties most of the time, i really wouln’t want to be reminded of my relatives who died at the hands of some of those ruthless criminals during the Gukurahundi error.-no ndaramba !
Bulawayo its ideal, why lingayithandi iBulawayo
Cheaper to reduce the number of MPs…..who don’t seem to do anything productive anyway…and the shortage of space is only an issue on the very rare occasions when all MPs pitch up to parliament and stay longer than it takes to sign the attendance register.
Parliament should be close to where the president resides. It common logic for security reasons and worse taking it to Bulawayo! With Mugabes history…maybe after Mugabe and the Zanu erra.
Byo. no not Bulawayo move it to Kwekwe ont anywhere else.
Cut down on the number of MP’s, back to a managable number as was the case pre-Zanu.
SMALL COUNTRY! JOBS FOR THE PAETY BOYS AND GIRLS, HUGE USELESS PARLIAMENT! CUT IT 50%! LET THEM FIND REAL JOBS!
Why the increase of the members of parliament to 270 when the country size has not increased, the population not even growing that much due to migration, service delivery level has gone down.
itai four four semukombi inokwana.
Lord have mercy
Move it to St. Helena island. And stay there.
Nyamandhlovu. Little traffic, lots of parking, and nowhere for MP’s to while away their time when skipping Parly sessions they’re paid to attend. There’s even a large property the new owner would no doubt donate for the good of the nation… or even sell it for some percentage of what was paid the previous owners. Splendid idea.
Garisanai munokwana imomo