The formal application, the filling and signing of the
forms and then calling for quick disbursement of the funds, negate remarks by
Mr Markham and those anti-Government activists who had sought to project him as
a man of probity who “flatly refused” the US$40 000 loan extended to
legislators.
Other CCC legislators gladly accepted the loan saying there
was nothing wrong with it.
However, it has turned out that Mr Markham was one of those
at the forefront of calling for the expeditious disbursement of the money into
their bank accounts after submitting forms to the administration of Parliament.
But he then changed his mind and made an about turn after
Mr Chamisa threatened to take punitive action against those CCC legislators who
took up the money.
A reliable source at Parliament said Mr Markham was one of
the MPs who were quick to collect forms and submitted them to the
administration of Parliament.
“He even made follow ups on when the money would be
disbursed into his bank account, clearly showing anxiety, restlessness and
eagerness to accept the money. When their leader, Mr Chamisa, began making
threats, that was when he came requesting to have his forms withdrawn which the
administration of Parliament accepted,” said the source.
Another source in CCC said Mr Markham feared backlash from
their party as he felt that prospects of his acceptance by the party to seek
re-election in this year’s harmonised elections would be compromised.
“The bottom line is that Mr Markham did not decline to take
the money out of his conscience, but because of fear.
“He feared that he might be barred from seeking
re-election,” the source said.
Mr Markham admitted that he indeed submitted his forms
before turning around and withdrawing them.
“That is correct, otherwise I would not know what the loan
document entailed,” said Mr Markham.
Most CCC legislators defied Mr Chamisa after their caucus
meeting and resolved to take up the US$40 000 housing loan scheme, saying it is
one of the loan schemes extended to them by the State.
CCC chief whip Mr Prosper Mutseyami said the issue was
raised during debate on the supplementary Budget as legislators were failing to
access accommodation in hotels due to non-payment of bills.
He said over the years, different facilities and loans have
always been provided to Parliament, the most common one being the vehicle loans
of up to US$60 000, in some cases.
Mr Mutseyami said the loans have always been repaid and
where there has been a default Parliament had instituted legal proceedings to
recover the money.
He added that the suggestion in some quarters that the
loans were donations are incorrect. Herald
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