SPEAKER of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda and Finance
minister Ignatius Chombo yesterday quelled a chaotic situation where MPs were
refusing to co-operate during a pre-budget seminar, while demanding payment of
their outstanding allowances and Constituency Development Fund allocations.
Mudenda, who had been away on leave, quickly returned to
address MPs gathered at a Harare lodge, telling them that it was with a heavy
heart that he heard about the disturbances at Parliament.
In attendance was Chombo, after MPs on Thursday demanded
audience with him over the issue.
“It is with a heavy heart because of the responsibilities
we find ourselves in. As human beings we have the capacity to solve whatever
problems are affecting us provided we put our minds together, and I say this in
the presence of Chombo — and I have a good working relationship with him and I
am confident he is going to deliver,” Mudenda said.
Mabvuku-Tafara MP James Maridadi suggested that delegates
at the pre-budget seminar who were not legislators should be excused to allow
the issue to be discussed in privacy.
Journalists and specialists in budget issues who had come
to make presentations to MPs, were asked to go out for almost three hours as
Mudenda and Chombo discussed the problems of MPs, who called themselves “the
ugly cousins of the Judiciary and Executive”.
During the closed-door discussions some emotional MPs could
be clearly heard demanding the same treatment given to the Judiciary and
Executive.
Some demanded that MPs must also have security personnel,
and that the Speaker must move with a motorcade, allowances and diplomatic
passports.
After the closed-door discussions, the about 150 MPs
present could be seen smiling and ready to take part in the pre-budget
discussions.
Mudenda later told journalists that the issues had been
resolved saying it was imperative for MPs to ensure they pass the 2018 budget
for Parliament which is not “thin” so that it adequately caters for their
concerns.
“The ball is in their court. They are raising issues at the
end of the 5th Session of the 8th Parliament, which issues should have been
raised since 2013. I believe they should be able to get their I-pads soon,” he
said.
Mudenda said MPs were owed $15 million in sitting
allowances, adding Parliament owed service providers like hotels over $3
million. Newsday
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