Bulilima East MP blames it all on MDC in shortest contribution to corruption debate

The Member of Parliament for Bulilima East Mathias Ndlovu said the high salaries that were being paid to chief executives of state enterprises were the creation of the Movement for Democratic Change and they deliberately inflated the salaries.

He did not say why.

In one of the shortest contribution to the motion on good governance where legislators from both the Movement for Democratic Change and the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front have roundly condemned corruption and have called for the setting up of a parliamentary committee to oversee the appointments of board members and CEOs, Ndlovu said: “It is my view that this was a creation of the MDC. In the previous Parliament, MDC was responsible for these parastatals. It is my contention that they deliberately inflated the salaries.”

Ndlovu said he was against the introduction of smart meters by the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority because they were too expensive and would be a waste as long as there was still load shedding.

“It is my contention that instead of worrying about smart meters which is new technology, the minister should worry himself in creating more Batoka electricity stations. I will not belabour the point because I am sure that the argument that has taken place at ZESA has even gone further now.

“Our glorious Engineer, Gloria Magombo is saying she wants to audit electricity consumption in this country. I wonder how she is going to do that audit when half the time, half the country has no electricity. If she wants that information, I am sure that the ZESA meter readers have got that information that can just be collected rather than spend millions of money to do an audit.”

Full contribution:

MR. M. S. NDLOVU: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I stand to add my voice on the issue of good corporate governance. I will not dwell on what has already been said. I am worried about the goings on at ZESA.

This pertains to the procurement of prepaid meters and the smart meters. I would like to inform this hon. House that installing a simple prepaid meter as is presently happening, will cost the rate payer $50.00. But, if as it is being said at the moment that we move to smart meters, it will cost the ratepayer between $600.00 and $800.00. The powers that be, that is: the Executive, the former Minister is aware of this and I am sure that the present Minister of Energy and Power Development is aware of the same situation.

What is worrying also is that, we presently have installed 350,000 plus meters. If we are to move to smart meters, it means that we need to have a smart grid in the country. By smart grid, I am talking about the absence of load shedding. If I had a smart meter in my House and I want to send a signal to say my geyser should go off or I have forgotten an iron on, how do I send a signal when there is load shedding? That signal will not arrive.

It is my contention that instead of worrying about smart meters which is new technology, the Minister should worry himself in creating more Batoka electricity stations. I will not belabour the point because I am sure that the argument that has taken place at ZESA has even gone further now. Our glorious Engineer, Gloria Magombo is saying she wants to audit electricity consumption in this country. I wonder how she is going to do that audit when half the time, half the country has no electricity. If she wants that information, I am sure that the ZESA meter readers have got that information that can just be collected rather than spend millions of money to do an audit.

To end my debate, I would also want to address myself to what is happening in the parastatals as regards the amount of money that we are paying to parastatal bodies. It is my view that this was a creation of the MDC. In the previous Parliament, MDC was responsible for these parastatals. – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections] – It is my contention that they deliberately inflated the salaries.-[HON.MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections]-

MR. SPEAKER: Order, order. I have been listening carefully to the debate by the hon. member and I have been waiting to see if the hon.member would address the motion. So far the hon. member has not adhered to what the motion is demanding us to debate. May the hon. member debate the motion?

MR. M. S. NDLOVU: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I have said what I have said and I rest my case.

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