TENSIONS boiled over at a Zanu PF parliamentary caucus
meeting on Wednesday morning as MPs confronted Finance minister Mthuli Ncube
over the parlous state of the economy and their welfare issues.
This comes as MPs are also calling for a 250% increase in
Constituency Development Fund allocations, saying the RTGS$50 000 which they
are receiving each was insufficient to allow them to undertake development
projects in their constituencies.
Ahead of Ncube’s Wednesday address to parliament on the
economy, Zanu PF summoned its MPs to a caucus meeting at the party headquarters
in Harare to whip them into line after it reportedly gathered information that
they intended to tackle him head-on over the spiralling economy and their
welfare before the nation.
Ncube’s presentation in parliament was broadcast live on
state television, ZBC.
In the tense caucus meeting, agitated parliamentarians
accused Ncube of sabotaging the party through his damaging policies and not
taking their welfare issues seriously.
Ncube was also asked to field questions to MPs in the
meeting, but left early leaving Zanu PF deputy chief whip Obedingwa Mguni on
the firing line.
Zanu PF MPs who spoke to the Zimbabwe Independent in
off-the-record briefings this week said there was a tense atmosphere in the
caucus meeting as MPs attacked Ncube and openly denounced him.
Sources said the meeting started with the Zanu PF chief
whip Pupurai Togarepi, MP for Gutu South, outlining the agenda — which was to
discuss how they should conduct themselves during the state-of-the-economy
address.
Ncube was then invited to speak to the MPs, they said.
In his address, which was repeatedly interrupted as he was
also later in the day in parliament, Ncube said government did not have the
means to fund MPs’ lavish lifestyles.
“Basically, we zeroed in on our welfare issues; for
instance we were previously promised Toyota Landcruiser vehicles, but Ncube
told us that government for now can only afford Toyota Hilux trucks.
Alternatively he offered us vehicle loans amounting to RTGS$40 000.
“In the last parliament, we got US$35 000 and the MPs felt
that Ncube was being dismissive. What sort of a car can you buy now with
RTGS$40 000? We demanded that he should at least raise it to at least RTGS$200
000, but he refused.
So people started making all sorts of accusations and
hurling insults at him,” one of the MPs who attended the meeting said.
“There was also the issue of our sitting allowances. As you
may be aware, we get RTGS$100 per sitting, which is now very insignificant. So
the MPs put it to him that since he is the one who devalued the currency, he
should own up and make sure our allowances are reviewed upwards. Again he did
not budge. This greatly angered some of us.”
Another source said: “The meeting turned chaotic as MPs
confronted Ncube.
Some accused him of being a sellout and a traitor who had
introduced policies that will cost the party in the next elections. He didn’t
take that particular criticism lightly.”
According to sources, chaos intensified when Ncube stood up
and put on a brave face as he took the marauding MPs head-on.
“Instead of retreating, he stood up and launched
counter-accusations against MPs and started banging tables in a fit of rage. He
insisted that the policies would work if they had the support of the party.
This further infuriated the MPs and the scene became dramatic as some started
walking out, while others kept on locked in heated exchanges him. In the end,
Togarepi calmed down the situation and ended the meeting,” the source said.
Later in the day, Ncube kept the National Assembly in wait
for about half an hour, raising fears that he might have developed cold feet to
avoid facing the combined wrath of Zanu PF and opposition parties.
But when he finally made his way into the House, Zanu PF
MPs maintained their cool throughout his presentation, which had to be cut
midway through in accordance with the Standing Rules and Orders which prohibit
parliament business from proceeding beyond 7:55pm unless prior special leave is
sought.
Togarepi yesterday declined to comment on the issue.
“Parliament’s administration is dealing with those issues
through the Ministry of Finance. Both parties are guided by decisions already
made on the adjustments to their allowance,” he said.
Ncube could not be reached for comment as his mobile number
went unanswered. Zimbabwe Independent
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