By Blessing Vava
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| Lovemore Moyo:''Right now I am using a Discovery as an off-road yet juniour persons like Deputy Ministers are driving better cars'' |
The demand by legislators to
get exit packages after the expiry of the term of office for the
Parliament of Zimbabwe cannot go unchallenged and should be dismissed with
contempt it deserves. The somewhat debilitating demands by the third arm of
government should be scrutinised in comparative terms with the general
standards that roles which the MPs are expected to discharge during the tenure
of office. These roles include but are not necessarily limited to the following
· The
law making activity
· The
surveillance activity and
· Constituency
service activity
When individuals make a
deliberate decision to become part of the government’s their arm in
complementary duty to the other two arms namely the executive and the
judiciary, they must do so with a general appreciation that it is public call
for duty rather than a narrow expectation of primitive accumulation.
Luxurygate:
Inside the Speakers garage
Since
they were elected our dear legislators have made headlines for the wrong and
shocking reasons especially to the electorate who voted them into office hoping
to have their grievances being dealt with in line with the afore stated three
levels of activities they are supposed to fulfil.
In
terms of the law making activity, the legislature has over time degenerated
into a rubber-stamping institution with the MPs either sheepishly endorsing
directives from the executives and in most cases sustaining a repressive law
and policy regime.
Nabbed:St Marys MP Marvellous Kumalo (centre)
accused of looting CDF Funds
During
the last campaign in the 2008 elections a lot of the MPs had flowery manifestos
full of promises of development. Like a
man proposing love to a woman, they came out sounding sweet and saying all the
right things. But in reality, they are nothing more than wolves dressed in
sheep's clothing promising heaven on earth and miracle galore. But deep down
they have a hidden selfish agenda to benefit only themselves and their kind.
They
promised to deal with issue of service delivery, health, education, clean and
available water and electricity, all of which has been the most affecting to
the majority of the populace. The manifestos were forgotten and slowly but
surely the ideals in them were exchanged for the selfish vices of merriment,
primitive accumulation and self aggrandisement.
When Zimbabweans voted for
them, they wanted the issues mentioned earlier to be addressed as a matter of
urgency not packages or allowances for MPs. But alas since 2008, nothing much
has been done to improve these communities mainly because of a leadership
dearth, corruption recorded both at local government and the Houses of Assembly.
Mutare West MP Shuah Mudiwa (MDC-T):
“We are approaching the end of the session
and we have no assurance that
we will be coming back.
Can the minister tell us if he is going to
give us exit packages and allowances?”
None will forget their demands
for a car every year which left many Zimbabweans in a state of shock. The
current bunch of legislators is the worst we have had since independence always
looking for avenues of milking the treasury dry, while turning a blind eye to
their constituencies. The lack of qualitative socio-economic and political
debates in the house leaves a lot to be desired, it was neither impressive nor
informed by a genuine desire to alleviate the poverty endured by the electorate:
NOT impressive at all as nothing much was done as far as the legislative reform
and formulation agenda is concerned.
Their affinity for luxury is
regrettable. Its sobering as it is mind
boggling for an MP to claim an exit package as if they had been working for a
company. Zimbabwe has no room for political entrepreneurs! Already they have
gobbled enough the money from the treasury, namely their vehicles, allowances
and hotel accommodation and the Constituency Development Funds they put to
personal use rather than developing their constituencies.
Poverty taking its toll in many constituencies
Those who are calling for
these packages know very well that they have not done anything for their
constituencies during their horrible stint in parliament, they are fully aware
that the electorate will not vote for them again so they want to benefit for
the last time. It will be a record set in that some will leave the house after
five years without uttering a word in parliament apart from the swearing-in
ceremony. The other opportune time they opened their mouths was when they were
either singing the national anthem, or heckling other honourable members during
debates and of cause they open their mouths wide during those lunches hosted
for MPs.
Since 2008, the MPs are now
proud owners of two vehicles, Isuzu vehicles they were scandalously given by
Gideon Gono, and the Mazda BT50 from the treasury. In Zimbabwe being an MP has
since become a profession and one way of getting rich quickly as evidenced by
these outrageous demands and all that they acquired during this session of
parliament. But the time has now come when rhetoric and empty promises will not
have space in our political landscape.
The calibre of legislators we
currently have leaves a lot to be desired. It is simply mediocre! In the previous election some became MPs
mainly because of bravery at the height of political violence and not what they
were capable of delivering. At least the coming in of the inclusive government
has afforded an opportunity to the electorate to assess the quality of
leadership we have. The coming election will not be about protest voting, it
will not be about bravery, but those who are capable of delivering. Those who are corrupt will surely be shown
the exit door.
Blessing ‘Vuvuzela’
Vava is a blogger from Chipinge, who believes in the ideals of the Peoples
Charter. He can be contacted on blessingvava@gmaill.com
