Source: Parliament coughs out $7m to MPs – Sunday News Sep 18, 2016
Walter Mswazie, Masvingo correspondent
THE Parliament of Zimbabwe has paid National Members of Assembly their outstanding sitting allowances amounting to about $7 million with the money for fuel being worked out, Speaker of Parliament has said.
Speaking after a stakeholder’s meeting comprising the Civic Society organisations and the media at a hotel in Masvingo on Thursday, Speaker of the House of Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda said Parliament has managed to pay all outstanding sitting allowances for its MPs after Treasury availed funds.
He said they were left with paying Members of Assembly’s fuel allowances, saying that should be done before year end.
Accordingly MPs get between $800 and $1 000 as sitting allowances per month and $900 as salary.
“We have managed to pay all national members their outstanding sitting allowances. We have to date paid around $7 million there about and we are only left paying them their outstanding fuel allowances and deceased estates,” said Adv Mudenda.
He said the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development was seized with the matter hoping that all outstanding allowances would be paid.
Meanwhile, Adv Mudenda called on media and Civic Society Organisations (CSOs) to help protect the constitution by disseminating information on the supreme law to the public domain in a fair and accurate manner.
He said the media should not hesitate to report the views of the people during public hearings so that the constitution becomes the document that represents the interest of the people.
He also castigated protesters in the country for violating the constitution through staging violent demonstrations.
“We expect media to play their watch dog role as it is enshrined in the constitution. Do not hesitate to report on negative things that people say during public hearings on certain Bills. We have the National Peace and Reconciliation Bill which was rejected by the people. That should be reported,” he said.
“We should know the interest you represent as CSOs when presenting petitions. We should know your funder and if you are genuine why do you hide such information. The constitution is also clear on protests; they have to be peaceful (section 59).”
COMMENTS
AT least ZANUPF has created jobs for them!!!!These jokers can’t even raise the DEVOLUTION IS NOW.TABLE MANNERS REMEMBER!
Sitting allowance? You mean sleeping allowance.
“Protect the constitution”, he says. Baloney! The constitution is in place to protect the citizens, but Mugabe is using it to protect himself and ZANU. Fact is, the government picks and chooses which laws it wants to apply to whom… all for the benefit of Mugabe and ZANU.
I can hardly wait to see them stand before the ICC, and answer the charges. The records of corruption, violence, and abuse, crimes against humanity. The records including dates, places, times, names, photos, videos, audio, will prove it all to be a designed conspiracy to harm the nation for their personal benefit. I envision prison farms… hoes, shovels, sweat, blisters, and very long rows of maise, cotton, and tobacco to be tended.
You don’t cough out money – you cough up money – minor correction to English