MEMBERS of Parliament yesterday arm-twisted Finance
minister Mthuli Ncube into raising their budgetary allocation by 44% and
demanded the latest 4×4 luxury Toyota Land Cruisers, among other perks, despite
the government implementing austerity measures to contain its runaway spending.
Parliament bid for $163 million in the 2019 budget, but was
allocated $101 million. Yesterday, MPs from across the political divide
threatened that they would not pass Ncube’s 2019 National Budget unless they
got things their way.
After haggling, the MPs eventually settled for $145 million
after they demanded that their welfare be improved to equal that of members of
the Executive and the Judiciary. They also want Parliament to be equipped with
state-of-the-art gyms, vehicles, computers, and other such luxuries.
In his Austerity for Prosperity budget, Ncube sought to cap
government borrowing, cut spending on flagship projects as command agriculture,
end all quasi-fiscal expenditure and limit borrowing from the central bank to
5% of the prior year’s revenue.
He also cut salaries for the President and senior
government officials by 5% and will fire the nearly 4 000 “youth officers” by
year-end. Ncube also cut the amount of bonuses paid to civil servants, but the
wage bill is still expected to go up by 5% to $4,050 billion in 2019,
constituting 61% of total revenue from 73% this year.
The budget, however, piled the weight of austerity and more
taxes on the ordinary citizen, who, in addition to the 2% tax on all electronic
transactions, will also pay more in excise duty for fuel and cigarettes, while
imports of vehicles and other goods is now levied in foreign currency.
After getting their demands met, the MPs ignored the debate
on the vote of the Public Service Commission, which takes care of the country’s
impoverished civil servants, including teachers and
doctors, despite doctors being on strike and teachers
threatening one.
Norton MP Temba Mliswa (independent), who was instrumental
in canvassing MPs to demand good perks, said: “MPs are handicapped and we are
talking of only one car, a Land Cruiser, which is the only car good enough for
MPs to do their work because the Mazdas and Toyotas we get are not good
enough.”
Mliswa said MPs were looked down upon because they did not
even have iPads, adding that the $75 per diem was a pittance, and needed to be
reviewed. Mliswa said the diet of MPs, where they eat a one course meal with a
banana or apple for desert, was not proper as other Parliaments had more
savoury desserts like trifles and ice cream.
“MPs must have world-class gyms and recreational facilities
to play golf. MPs must also be given diplomatic passports,” Mliswa said.
Mbizo MP Settlement Chikwinya (MDC Alliance) said
Parliament was so underfunded to the extent that it relied on development
partners to finance the work of its committees. He added there was need to
finance constituency information offices for MPs, and employ more staff in
Parliament to assist in research and committee businesses.
Zanu PF’s Goodlucky Kwaramba said MPs were impoverished as
the Ford Ranger vehicles they were given last time were already broken down.
Chegutu West MP Dextor Nduna (Zanu PF) said MPs were given
fuel coupons in a humiliating manner.
Wedza North MP David Musabayana (Zanu PF) said MPs were the
poorer cousins of the Executive and Judiciary, to the extent that they begged
for fuel coupons at ministers’ offices for resale, as well as soliciting for
allowances and gifts from organisations that fund parliamentary trips and
committees.
Ncube promised that MPs would comparatively get their
vehicles, but said the agreed model was a Toyota Hilux twin cab vehicle.
Ncube said he would also look at the issue of pensions for
MPs who have served for a term, and also suggested to increase Parliament’s
budget from $101 million to $120 million.
But Binga North MP Prince Dubeko Sibanda (MDC Alliance)
said it was not the duty of the Executive to appropriate finances, but
Parliament, also adding legislators were not going to allow the budget to pass
if it did not increase Parliament’s vote.
Sibanda said the $163 million that Parliament wanted did
not even consider inflation.
“If the minister does not allocate Parliament what it
requests, then he should have his 2019 budget passed elsewhere,” Sibanda said.
After the increase, there was jubilation in the House, with
MPs from across the political divide hugging Ncube. Newsday
0 comments:
Post a Comment