The Movement for Democratic Change today chastised its Members of Parliament following reports that they had asked that their sitting allowance be almost trebled from US$75 to US$200 and that they should be given the most expensive cars on the market saying the legislators must be alive to the plight of the people.
In a statement, the party said it acknowledged the plight of the MPs but it was strongly against their demand for outrageous perks while the ordinary people of Zimbabwe were struggling to put food on the table.
“While the MPs may have legitimate concerns, those concerns must reflect that representing the people is not equal to what the press has branded as the MDC’s unbridled pursuit of avarice and expensive tastes,” the party said.
“The MDC is a party of ordinary Zimbabweans who want parliamentary representatives with a dignified status but who do not make demands that give the impression that we have joined the bandwagon of those from ZANU- PF who are in the news every day for plunder and personal aggrandisement at the expense of the welfare of the ordinary citizen.”
Full statement:
Thursday,13 February 2014
MDC urges MPs to be alive to the plight of the people
The MDC acknowledges the sorry plight facing the MPs which does not befit their status but is strongly against their demand of what the media has called outrageous perks while the ordinary people of Zimbabwe are struggling to put food on the table.
The MDC is aware that most MPs do not have cars; that they are using public transport and are failing to go back to their constituencies because Parliament is broke.
Therefore, the MDC fully appreciates the sorry plight of the MPs from across the political divide who are committed to serving their country.
Despite their sorry predicament, the MDC believes that the MDC MPs cannot be demanding that MPs who stay in Harare be provided with accommodation, among other perks such as top-notch Land Rover Discovery vehicles and a three-fold increment in their allowances.
The people of Zimbabwe are suffering and are struggling to put food on the table.
While the MPs may have legitimate concerns, those concerns must reflect that representing the people is not equal to what the press has branded as the MDC’s unbridled pursuit of avarice and expensive tastes.
We are different as a party and we understand the people’s plight and the crisis facing the country.
The party assures the people of Zimbabwe and pledges its unstinting commitment to represent the people well. The MDC has taken it upon itself to ensure that the demands by its MPs are in line with the values of the party and are cognisant of the suffering people of Zimbabwe.
The MDC is a party of ordinary Zimbabweans who want parliamentary representatives with a dignified status but who do not make demands that give the impression that we have joined the bandwagon of those from Zanu PF who are in the news every day for plunder and personal aggrandisement at the expense of the welfare of the ordinary citizen.
All MPs certainly deserve all-terrain vehicles but cannot be demanding expensive Land Rover Discovery vehicles while one million children are out of school.
The people of Zimbabwe have invested their hope and faith in the MDC and the party must not betray that hope.
The MDC has already spoken to the leaders of the party in Parliament and is assuring the nation that the party’s MPs will make demands that are reflective of the national situation and the plight facing ordinary Zimbabweans.
While the MPs have legitimate concerns, they must be alive to the fact that Parliament is an arena for service and sacrifice and the MDC legislators should be reflective of that dictum of the party.
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