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Ms Thokozani Khupe

Farirai Machivenyika  Senior Reporter
The MDC-T Parliamentary Caucus has written to the National Assembly seeking a raft of shocking benefits that would cost Treasury an extra US$89 million annually.The proposals come at a time when there is a public outcry over obscene salaries and allowances drawn by senior management at Government-linked institutions and firms.

The demands include, among other things, nearly tripling the sitting allowance from US$75 a sitting to US$200, executive vehicles, toll gate exemptions, weekly fuel coupons worth 100 litres, and accommodation allowances for legislators who represent constituencies in Harare where Parliament sits.

The letter — jointly signed by MDC-T vice president and leader of the opposition in Parliament Thokozani Khupe, and the party’s chief whip Mr Innocent Gonese — is dated February 6, 2014 (see scanned copy of letter on page 3) and was copied to Senate president Cde Edna Madzongwe, Deputy Senate president Cde Chen Chimutengwende, National Assembly Deputy Speaker Mabel Chinomona, Chiefs Council president Chief Fortune Charumbira and Zanu-PF Chief Whip Cde Jorum Gumbo.

The letter was also copied to the MDC formation led by Professor Welshman Ncube, which has two Parliamentary representatives. The MDC-T caucus met on February 5 to deliberate issues concerning the welfare of MPs and made the following resolutions:

1. That sitting allowances be increased from US$75 per sitting to US$200;

2. That vehicles similar to those allocated to Deputy Ministers, such as  the Land Rover Discovery, be bought for MPs who would then have the option to buy them at book value at the end of their terms. Members would also have the option to buy duty-free an additional vehicle of their own choice. Deputy ministers are entitled to Land Rover Discovery 4s or Jeep Grand Cherokees, both of which cost over US$100 000;

3. That all MPs be issued with exemption certificates for any vehicles they drive so that they do not pay toll fees;

4. That the minimum allocation of fuel be pegged at 100 litres a week and adjustments be made on a pro rata bases to cover those traveling longer distances. Further fuel for constituency or provincial work respectively be allocated to all MPs.

5. The fifth recommendation pertains to accommodation allowances, where MDC-T proposes allowances for Harare-based legislators despite the fact that the facility was created to cater for legislators not ordinarily resident in the capital.

“The regulation pertaining to accommodation be amended to enable Members of Parliament representing Harare to also claim accommodation allowances whenever there is Parliamentary business,” reads the letter.

MDC-T also proposed a joint parliamentary caucus today to discuss the issues with Zanu-PF MPs.
Mr Gonese yesterday confirmed that they wanted a joint caucus to discuss welfare issues affecting legislators.

“We wanted to discuss the issues of concern to MPs, especially erratic payment of their allowances, lack of  fuel coupons that have seen some going for three weeks without getting them. Generally speaking we want to discuss welfare issues affecting the MPs,” Mr Gonese said.

Cde Gumbo said they had received the request from MDC-T.
“As far as I am concerned it’s their right to make proposals but when people make proposals they should look at whether they are feasible or not, because the country is watching.

“As Zanu-PF we do not want to be seen to have come to Parliament to give ourselves huge monies. We have not sat down to discuss those issues as a party,” Cde Gumbo said.

Cde Gumbo said that MPs welfare issues were matters that were being dealt with by Parliament’s administration and the Standing Rules and Orders Committee.

Currently, MPs get a US$75 sitting allowance that is only accessed by those who attend Parliamentary sessions. They also receive travelling and subsistence allowances whenever they are on Parliamentary business, and have a loan facility to buy vehicles.