Legislators: Non-Payment of Allowances Affecting Our Duties
Government owes legislators $1,6 million and the $15,000 once-off payment did not clear the debt owed to legislators.
Parliament of Zimbabwe
Sithandekile Mhlanga
03.01.2013
WASHINGTON — Members of parliament say failure by the government to pay them their sitting allowances owed to them this year has grossly affected the execution of their duties, including attending parliamentary sessions.
The government owes legislators $1,6 million amid indications that treasury has not yet revealed how the $15,000 payment given to each legislator last year should be accounted for.
Each legislator is entitled to $75 per sitting and Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Eric Matinenga reportedly attributes the non-payment to the fact that payments were being made through treasury.
Siyabonga Malandu-Ncube, Member of Parliament for Insiza South in Matabeleland South says the $15,000 once-off payment did not cover all the money owed to legislators, since the debt had accumulated from 2009.
Malandu-Ncube says he has to fork out money for travelling more than 1,400 kilometers to and from his constituency to Harare to attend parliamentary sessions.
Interview with Siyabonga Malandu-Ncube