Zimbabwean lawmakers and ministers are in the process of receiving housing loans ranging from US$40,000 to US$500,000 each.
Several legislators told VOA Studio 7 that they signed an agreement with government for the provision of the money to purchase stands, which will be used as collateral.
One of the lawmakers, who declined to be named, said, “We need this money because we get a monthly salary of US$200 and no other benefits. We know that people are not happy with this but we had no option but to get the loans. Right now, we have been struggling to get fuel in order to attend to parliamentary business and we don’t have anything from the government.
“These are loans and not money which we will take home. We will use it to buy stands as it is impossible to buy a reasonable house with US$40,000 that we will be given by the government.”
Temba Mliswa, Member of Parliament for Norton, said lawmakers have the right to get these loans.
In a series of tweets, Mliswa, who is the chairperson of the parliamentary welfare committee, said, “MPs are the headmasters who watch over other arms of state. Why are we unsettled with their lesser benefits even against the humongous allocations for Ministers& Dep Ministers US$500K&US$350K respectively? Certain things are obligatory for certain positions! It's paradoxical that we require effective representation but are not willing to fund it. Again, not all MPs are personally capacitated to function using personal resources. They need it.
“We are on PSMAS media aid and it doesn't work. Fees we pay for ourselves. Ministers got US$500 000, Deputy Ministers US$350 000. We get US$40 000 and suddenly everyone is an economist attacking us! We are the poor and dull cousins who gives more and gets less in return really. How can we be effective in positions of oversight over the Executive and other arms of Gvt when we are not capacitated? Look at what the Judiciary and the Executive gets. How do you oversee such arms of Gvt from a position of dire poverty?”
He further said, “It's also unfortunate that people operate with a mindset that MPs shouldn't be supported in accordance with their offices and obligations. Every role and job has conditions of service. These are part of that. Why should the role of being an MP be dangerous, risky& yet thankless?
“Again, initially and as approved in the Budget, MPs had been given US$80 000 for cars. However, they acquired vehicles for US$50 000 leaving a US$30K change. It's part of that figure. Just want to provide context and an explanation about the US$40 000 to be given to legislators. I'm the Chairperson of the Welfare Committee Pressure Group. That figure isn't a gift but it's a loan.”
But internationally-aclaimed writer Tsitsi Dangarembga had no kind words for the MPs, especially of the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change led by Nelson Chamisa.
In a tweet, she said, “I really think CCC has just lost the election with that 40000 bribe. People stayed in the bush and sometimes had 8 grains of maize a day to eat. And opposition can't resist a 40000 bribe. That is utter spinelessness.”
Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda, was unavailable for comment as he was not responding to calls on his mobile phone.