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Mr Kennedy Chokuda

Lloyd Gumbo Senior Reporter
Parliament gobbles at least $1,6 million every month to fund sessions for members and their accommodation, Clerk of Parliament Mr Kennedy Chokuda has revealed.

There are about 300 backbenchers.

Mr Chokuda told Members of Parliament who attended the pre-Budget seminar in Victoria Falls that Government resources were insufficient.

He said parliament had to look for development partners to complement budgetary allocations from Treasury. “When budgeting for the sittings of Parliament, for you to sit just for one week, we require about $420 000,” he said. “What was in the 2015 Budget is $5 420 000 which was eventually revised to $9 million. As we speak, we are at $9 021 000, which tells you that we have very limited resources to the end of the year. We have engaged Treasury and they understand our situation.”

Mr Chokuda said the budget for the legislature catered for both the administration of Parliament and MPs’ business. He said to supplement the resources from Treasury, Parliament administration had engaged development partners who had come on board.

Mr Chokuda said the financial support they received includes $4,5 million from the United Nations Development Programme covering 2015 to 2017 while the World Bank would chip in with $3 million from 2016 to 2019. The African Development Bank will also avail $1,8 million from 2016 to 2018.

“UNDP has so far provided support to the following activities: public hearings on the Gender Commission Bill, General Laws Amendment Bill, Joint Ventures Bill, RBZ Debt Assumption Bill, Public Debt Management Bill and the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Amendment Bill.

“They have also sponsored field visits by the portfolio committees on Lands, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development; Health and Child Care; Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and Defence and Home Affairs,” said Mr Chokuda.

He said most of the funds would be directed towards the work of portfolio committees. Mr Chokuda said support from development partners was in response to Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa’s efforts in engaging the international community. He said Parliament had reduced its domestic and international debts after receiving money from Treasury.

He, however, said arrears with the Sadc Parliamentary Forum needed to be settled as a matter of urgency. Mr Chokuda said Parliament owed its creditors about $5,5 million with part of the debt dating back to 2013.