MDC-Alliance Members of Parliament have come under fire for
performing political antics which cost the taxpayer over $100 000 through the
re-sitting of the House last Friday. The National Assembly had to re-sit last
Friday, when it prematurely adjourned the previous day after MDC MPs walked out
so as to create a quorum crisis when the House was about to debate two crucial
Bills — the Tripartite Negotiating Forum Bill and Companies and Other Entities
Bill.
Parliament does not ordinarily sit on Fridays, but had to
re-convene in terms of standing orders since there had been a quorum-induced
adjournment as was the case last Thursday, thereby costing taxpayers a fortune
in sitting allowances, accommodation, fuel, meals, printing of stationary among
other costs.
Parliament has total of 270 MPs each getting $75 sitting
allowance and at least $300 in accommodation.
Zengeza West legislator Mr Job Sikhala (MDC-Alliance) rose
on a point of order to notify the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Advocate
Jacob Mudenda, that there was no quorum only for him and fellow legislators to
walk out as the bells were ringing to invite other legislators who were
outside.
The move by Mr Sikhala surprised everyone including Adv
Mudenda, who latter implored MDC MPs to take the House seriously.
“Honourable Sikhala, I thought you were hungry for debate.
Call your colleagues back.
“Hon (Tabitha) Khumalo, you have demonstrated good example,
but the head of train without a trailer or trailers cannot move, you tried, but
can we send a word that in the national interest and respecting the tax payers’
money, we need to do business as much as we can so that we cover up in the
legislative agenda. I would urge you as the national chair of the main
opposition party to ensure that next week when we come back, we have to cover
what should have been covered today plus much more which will be presented to
us by the Leader of Government business so that we are within the time lines of
finishing the legislative agenda during this session. It is very important,”
said Adv Mudenda.
In an interview, Zanu-PF Chief Whip Cde Obedingwa Mguni
castigated MDC-Alliance legislators for walking out in order to scuttle sitting
of Parliament.
“They walked out trying to sabotage the quorum. They did
not want the Bills before Parliament which were pertinent. We had to re-sit the
following day and obviously costing taxpayers in accommodation, meals, and
sitting allowances among other costs,” said Cde Mguni.
“It is not only a waste of resources, but they would be
short-changing constituencies as MPs will now have to spend more time in
Parliament unnecessarily.”
MDC-Alliance Chief Whip Mr Prosper Mutseyami said they had
to rush to attend funerals of party activists who died in a road accident in
Kwekwe in which Glen View South legislator, Mrs Vimbai Tsvangirai-Java was
hospitalised.
“We have no iota of reason to want to sabotage the
institution of Parliament, we respect it a lot. We had to attend two funerals
of our party activists,” said Mr Mutseyami. Herald
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