‘Legislators not a greedy lot’

understood the challenges Government faced but were sometimes forced to highlight their plight to get a redress.
“Sometimes what we read in the papers really surprises us because all we will be asking for is that which is due to us,” said Mr Nezi.
“Our sitting allowances are still outstanding . . . but we feel also for our Government as it has no resources.
“The amounts vary from one individual member to another . . . We are also owed a lot of fuel and we have ended up subsidising Government by using our own resources,” he said.
Cde Bhasikiti concurred.
“We are not complaining but only highlighting that there are allowances that are due to MPs. You will recall that last year the Executive had to make an undertaking that MPs were owed various amounts of money since 2008.
“The MPs did not say they wanted their money there and then. We are cognisant of the economic performance of our country but there has to be that recognition and where possible the Executive and fiscal authorities should make efforts for MPs to do their duties,” he said.
MPs are each entitled to US$75 per sitting, travel allowances and fuel, with each member’s dues calculated according to their attendance to Parliament business.
The Welfare Committee said amounts accruing to members range from US$15 000 to US$30 000 since 2008.
The two legislators also confirmed that MPs were not owed money under the Copac outreach programme, contradicting Uzumba legislator Cde Simba Mudarikwa who told reporters two weeks ago that lawmakers had been underpaid for their work.
“I don’t know where that came from but certainly not from the welfare committee,” stated Cde Bhasikiti.
“Assuming that a member could have given his own opinion on these issues — that would be independent opinion. What we understand as a committee is that there was a contract between Copac and individual members. As far as we are concerned the programme was well executed and we are over it,” he said.
Cde Bhasikiti said allowances for Copac were calculated on the rate of the “initial” US$25 and US$50.
Mr Nezi insisted that Cde Mudarikwa had been misquoted.
He also highlighted that legislators’ call for housing stands were meant to spare the members of the “absurdity” of being tenants in their  constituencies.