MPs feel duped in stands deal with govt

**National Assembly speaker, Jacob Mudenda**

Nyashadzashe Ndoro

Members of Parliament protested yesterday in the house after realising that they were yet to receive title deeds to the Harare stands they paid for during the 9th Parliament.

Zanu PF MP Lillian Zemura raised the matter during Thursday sittings as saying that the stands that were allotted in 2019 to legislators are yet to be formally released despite having been paid for.

She asked: “We paid for the stands but to date, we have not been shown the stands. Is it Government policy to say, you are an Hon. Member but you are not given your dues?”

In jest, the Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda asked the members why they had purchased the properties that they had not seen.

“Aaah, ko imimi maibhadharira sei chinhu chamusina kuona? When you buy a loaf of bread and you do not touch it, that is very abnormal. So, the first thing is, I think we need to get the stands serviced as soon as possible. Thereafter, they will be pegged accordingly. I think the Clerk of Parliament will work on that immediately. Do you want to clarify something?”

Tafanana Zhou, Zanu PF MP for Mberengwa West said authorities initially indicated that “they wanted them (stands) to be serviced first. I think your Office is seized with the matter”.

Zanu PF Chief Whip in Parliament, Pupurai Togarepi said lawmakers needed to escalate the matter beyond local government.

“Mr. Speaker Sir. While I appreciate and agree with what you have given us as advice, we are talking of 2013, this is eleven years to date, and we have heard, I think, so many meetings. I have sat down with the Clerks so many times. We have raised this thing; this is the Eighth Parliament; the Ninth Parliament received a stand even in this Tenth Parliament, we are supposed to receive because it is part of our benefits. So, I think it is a matter that needs the Hon. Speaker to escalate it not for us to sit down with the people from the Local Government, they will not even listen to us,” he said.

Mudenda promised to verify the matter with his office.

“You know, had you been in court, you would be a redundant witness. Let me be advised by the Clerk of Parliament before I respond. Thank you very much. Administrative issues are directed to the office of the Clerk of Parliament. If you do not get any joy from the Clerk, you can approach my office, and these matters are handled by the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders.

“Having said that, let me follow up on the issues and see how we can, first and foremost, make some arrangements with the Ministry of Local Government so that you have sight of the stands next week.

“We also find out how far the Ministry has gone in terms of getting the necessary funding to do the services for utilities, that is electricity, water and sewerage reticulation. So, that should be done next week and we will be able to come back to you and report. Ordinarily, these issues are very administrate, if you had said you went to the Clerk’s Office and you did not get any joy and also came to my office and found my office closed for the whole two weeks, then I would understand, but we will deal with the situation by next week,” he said.