Don’t put us up in brothels, Zimbabwe MP says

THE HON. SPEAKER:  You are now debating Hon. Member.  I thought you had made your point.

HON. T. MLISWA:  In conclusion Mr. Speaker Sir, it becomes very difficult.  If we cannot at all afford, then I think it is best we go home and we just continue without work until Parliament has enough funding for us to continue our mandate, but we are doing this in a much compromised position.  I want you to know that.

THE HON. SPEAKER:  Thank you very much.  When you speak of some contractual agreement, we are now toward the tail end of the 9th Parliament and some of you were in the 8th Parliament, others in the 7th Parliament, others in the 6th Parliament and so on.  In the structure of Parliament, you have your whips minus yourself of course, who is an independent.  Your whips are directly responsible for the welfare – [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.]-  Can you listen?  Either you want me to respond to the point of order, so please behave.  Thank you.

The issue I was saying, you have the whips and they are expected to bring such proposals to the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders.  The whips come from the political parties – [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.]- Please can I finish or else I keep quiet and save my energy to attend to the Hon. Vice President.

So if there are certain perhaps miscommunication and so on, you have the accounting officer, the Clerk of Parliament and you have me.  Bring these things to our attention and we will act accordingly.  When I was away there has been some proposal or decision from Treasury, which decision we have attended to as of yesterday and I want to believe as we go forward, the issue will be sorted out accordingly.  There were two major issues as far as I was informed – the housing loan and the second vehicles.  Those were the outstanding issues.  As far as accommodation, the hotels; this has been a problem not only for Parliament but also for ministries of Government and Treasury is coming up with some solution.  That is why we are able to secure accommodation at the Rainbow Towers.

There are differentials Hon. Mliswa, I agree.  I am not sure whether the Ambassador is a Three Star hotel.  What is important is, while we come to some finality with Treasury, the Minister is arriving only today and we should be able to iron out some of these issues that affect you directly.  Indeed, you deserve the dignity as law makers of this nation.  No country can operate without the law and Parliaments make the law, and that is why you are Hon. Members.  In that regard – [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.]- Hon. Madzimure, do you want to listen to me?

To that extent, that honour needs to be respected and protected.  So as a way forward, we will ensure that by tomorrow when the Minister is within the country, we iron out some of these issues which not only affect Parliament but have affected all the Government ministries because they owe the hotels.  Some hotels have been owed from six to nine months.  Are you listening Hon. Mliswa?  They have been owed for a long time and what they are owed now has been eaten up by inflation.  These are the concerns also from the hotels.  They also want value for money.  So these are the issues and we will sort it out.  Any challenges are there to be sorted out and get solutions accordingly and I am sure we should be able to find lasting solutions to that effect.  So your point of order Hon. Mliswa, is understood in that context.  Thank you.

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