Chinotimba says MPs should not pay for vehicles they use because they are doing government work

Full contribution:

*HON. CHINOTIMBA:  On a point of order Mr. Speaker Sir. This is on a point of privilege on Section 69.  I stood because we are troubled by the type of vehicle, the Ford Ranger that we were given and all other vehicles.  We realise that these cars are roadworthy but the Government says we should pay for those vehicles.  We do not have secretaries in our constituencies and we end up doing the secretary’s work.  We are always travelling in our constituencies and if you see people sleeping in this august House, it is because they are tired of travelling.  Those vehicles are no longer serving their purposes because I am now doing the work that the secretary is supposed to be doing, because Government said there is no money.  However we are expected to pay for those vehicles, yet we are performing Government duty with that same vehicle.

 In the Seventh Parliament, the vehicle loans were written off and MPs did not pay for the vehicles.  My request is for all the vehicles that we were given not to be paid for and the Government should foot the bill, because the work that we are doing is difficult.  We are doing Government’s work.  We were given nothing and we are struggling.  We were told that CDF would be availed but we did not get anything.  We are now heading for elections and CDF has not yet been released.  So, if all of us in this House – the stands that we talked about the other time are not even available.  So, my request is that we should not pay for the vehicles but the Government should pay.  If we unite as Parliament, I know that we will be able to achieve what we want.  That is what I wanted to say.  I thank you.

*THE HON. SPEAKER:  Order, I allowed you Hon. Member to speak but this is not the forum to bring up such issues.  Secondly, I was disturbed when you were interrogating the budget.  The Parliament budget was No 2 and when we came back from Bulawayo, I tasked you to interrogate the budget and urged you to check if your concerns were addressed in the budget.  We met at Cresta Lodge and I reiterated the same statement that you need to look into the Parliament budget but when you got to budget item No 2 for Parliament during the Committee of the Whole House, Parliament budget allocation – any debate?  The Minister of Finance and Economic Development Hon. Chinamasa said that he would add $10 million to the Parliament budget which was earmarked for CDF and members applauded and clapped your hands.  When any further comments were called for, members did not say anything but today you are standing up to make certain requests.  Why did you not put in your requests during the budget interrogations?

Thirdly, we have a Committee on Welfare that is composed of our Chief Whips. You meet at your caucuses and these issues must be addressed there.  They should also be brought to the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders, not in this august House; not here.

HON. CHINOTIMBA:  I have a point of order.

*THE HON. SPEAKER:  Please talk to your Chief Whips. I have responded to you.

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