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Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Eric Matinenga attributed the non-payment to the fact that payments were being made through Treasury.
He said had Treasury paid through a parliamentary budget, legislators would have been paid sitting allowances premised on the number of days they attended parliament.
“I have not heard anything regarding payment of sitting allowances for 2012. The last payment that was done was not done through the parliamentary budget,” said Minister Matinenga.
“Certainly, we would have wanted to regularise the payment of their sitting allowance. We will certainly do that, only if the payment is done through a parliamentary budget. I am not aware that the payment was done in that manner.”
Parliamentary welfare committee secretary Cde Kudakwashe Bhasikiti said it was unfair not to pay legislators their dues.
“Certainly, we expect to get paid what is due to us. We also expect that they should communicate to us if the money has been delayed.”
Finance Minister Tendai Biti recently told legislators that he had written off their $30 000 debts arising from vehicles they got under a loan scheme.
He was responding to inquiries from legislators during the 2013 National Budget debate on when they would be paid their sitting allowances.
He told the legislators that they should be grateful for what Treasury was doing for them.
Online Reporter