Said Independent legislator for Norton Temba Mliswa:

“Good afternoon Madam Speaker.  I rise on a point of privilege.  I continue arming you with more information in terms of the welfare of the Members of Parliament.  The first issue is, whilst some had gone to pick a $50 000 car others have been given an allowance of $55 000 and these are members of the Speaker’s Panel, Standing Rules and Orders members and Chairpersons.  

The question that I bring to you Madam Speaker is, if that is the correct position, I would like to know where they got the extra $5 000 from because $50 000 is what was said was the cap.  Are we today not the same, are we different today? 

So Madam Speaker, it is important that you also look into it.  I saw a letter myself which gave others $55 000 and the majority had $50 000. – [AN HON. MEMBER:  We are all Members of Parliament.] – Madam Speaker, regardless of the number of votes that you got, as long as you won you are entitled. 

The second issue is – can the Administration of Parliament furnish the nation of Zimbabwe with our remuneration because people think we are getting a salary of $5 000 or $10 000.  It is important that Parliament of Zimbabwe puts in the Herald what we are being given, that is $2 000 and allowances because each time we come to this House and we push for our welfare they think we are being selfish.  Ministers are still being given Land Cruisers and Mercedes Benz.  

So, how can the austerity measures be targeted to Parliamentarians only and not the Executive yet we know for a very long time, it is the Executive that has been spending a lot of money. 

Madam Speaker, I am also told there are people who had a choice to buy Isuzu vehicles from Paza Buster.  I am told again that ugly head of corruption has visited our august House where people are now being told where to buy vehicles and are being told not to go to Paza Buster.  Madam Speaker, can you also look into that and find out why Paza Buster is not part of the list because other people prefer Toyota and others prefer Isuzu.  It means that even those who want to marry must be given a wife at the end of the day yet you have a choice of a wife.  

I think it is important that we are treated like adults, we are not young children and we are constantly being treated like young children.  That must stop.  We have a choice of association.  The Constitution itself talks about freedom of association, so whether I go and buy a vehicle from Croco Motors or Paza Buster, it is my choice.  I thought Madam Speaker, I should raise these issues.

 Finally, let me talk about the diplomatic passport.  The President approved for every Member of Parliament to have a diplomatic passport. Who is working against the President in not taking the order from the President? – [AN HON. MEMBER: Seva ipapo.] – The President, the Head of State has said all Members of Parliament must be given diplomatic passports.  We do not have them.  So, who is stopping that from happening?  There are people working against the President and soon they shall be exposed. 

 Madam Speaker, let me move on to our welfare. We shall stop debating any other issues in Parliament until our welfare is taken care of.  We are tired of passing Bills, we are tired of passing laws yet we are nothing at the end of the day.  So, Madam Speaker, I thank you very much and I know Madam Speaker, as a mother you feel for us your children. I know your heart is aching, we are your children, please advance this for us.  Thank you.

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER (TSITSI GEZI): Order Hon. Mliswa, I have noted all your concerns, I am going to look into them and will give a ruling later.  I want you to give me the letter which you referred to.

HON. T. MLISWA:  Madam Speaker, the Administration of Parliament is the one that sent that letter.  I managed to see it in one of the companies; unless they say they did not write the letter, I will bring the letter.  They have the letter that they wrote for $55 000.  Madam Speaker, I just managed to bump into the letter when I went to one of these car sales companies.  The $55 000 was for Chairpersons, SRC, Speakers Panel and I think Hon. Mutomba’s name was not on the list, I do not know why because he is on the Speaker’s Panel.  That letter did not have Parliament letterhead.  So, I do not know where it came from, if they cannot give you that letter by today, tomorrow I will produce it.  I will go and ask the letter from the company that I saw it from.