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Lungile Tshuma Analysis
“If there is anything we want to say and do to these outgoing parliamentarians is to wave our hands and say ‘good bye’. It has been a bad period when we heard a lot of cries, as parliamentarians failed to come up with policies to improve people’s lives,” said Bulawayo United Residents’ Association (Bura) chairperson Mr Winos Dube.
At midnight, the Seventh Parliament will be dissolved by operation of law, exactly five years after it was elected. Analysts and constituents have dismissed it as arguably the worst Parliament since Independence, as legislators tended to focus on enriching themselves and bickering instead of concentrating on their primary roles of making laws and leading in national development.
Bulawayo-based political commentator, Mr Dumisani Mpofu said MDC-T parliamentarians failed to represent people in the city as the closure of industries and water shortage are still affecting them.
“We expected parliamentarians from Bulawayo to make a lot of noise about the Distressed Industries and Marginalised Areas Fund (Dimaf) but to my surprise they were mum about it,” he said.
“They were supposed to keep on lobbying for more information on how funds are distributed but unfortunately the issue ended up between (Tendai) Biti, (Minister of Finance) and (Welshman) Ncube (the Minister of Industry and Commerce).”
He said citizens were unhappy with MPs who spent most of their time sitting in the august house clamouring for allowances, new cars and exit packages.
Although the Seventh Parliament was elected on 29 March 2008, its term legally started on the day when President Mugabe was sworn into office after he had won the presidential election run-off on June 27 of that year.
Mr Dube said:
“This crop of leadership is full of people who got the political ticket to enrich themselves. The evidence is crystal clear. It is unclear how funds under the Constituency Developmental Fund (CDF) were used and at the moment we have not seen any parliamentarian who used those funds productively.”
MPs demands date back to 2009 when they asked and were each given $30 000 to buy vehicles for which they did not sign any contracts with Treasury.
In 2010 they demanded new cars arguing that their work involved a lot of travelling. At some point, they demanded $3 000 per month each in salary.
They also demanded $10 000 each as compensation for using their cars for the Copac outreach programme. From Copac again, they demanded a cumulative $8 million for participating in the outreach.
In addition to that they asked for a staggering $8,5 million vehicle loan facility with each of them seeking $30 000 to import vehicles duty free. They wanted banks to assist them acquire new vehicles to replace the ones they claimed were either accident-damaged or unroadworthy. The demands for the salary increment, compensation for vehicle use during Copac programmes and the car loan scheme were turned down.
But their demands were viewed as a way of preparing themselves for life after Parliament as most of them are unsure of re-election.
“These parliamentarians lacked consultation as they could not separate party politics from their role as MPs. They are representing people from all political parties. They forgot that they had risen from one party politics and pledged to work for all people. We expected them to engage everyone and consult broadly for the development of the constituency.
“Residents are sinking in debt from Zesa, BCC and Tel One. They were supposed to do something to help residents. This crop of legislators is mostly dominated by people who claim to be coming from the labour side, but to my surprise they watched residents suffering and the economy melting. We are sick and tired of people who are going to parliament to drive nice cars,” said Mr Dube.
Parliament plays an oversight role on the executive arm of the State among others roles. They also debate and pass laws, ensure transparency and accountability, monitoring the implementation of government programmes and projects and debating matters of topical interest.
“In terms of reforming some laws, we expected the Parliament to have done better and by this time we should have been done with most if not all the reforms. Unfortunately the Government was more of squabbles more than unity and it was also run through negotiations,” said Mr Mpofu.
Concerning voting for new candidates, Mr Dube urged residents to desist from engaging in protest vote because it is not helpful. Instead it comes to bite residents later, he said.
“We are now heading for elections,” said Mr Dube, “and this is an opportunity for residents to correct their mistakes and vote for people who will truly represent them. A protest vote is not helpful. They should now vote for people whom they know and trust that they will deliver. This is the time for people to choose individuals who will go to Parliament with them in the back of their minds and people who will be very creative.”
Citizens have on many times questioned the calibre of some parliamentarians, particularly MDC-T ones, whom they say were uneducated and poor hence they failed to contribute to debates and also that they failed to develop their constituencies.
At one time Ms Tabitha Khumalo, MDC-T MP for Bulawayo East called for legalisation of prostitution, which is taboo in the Zimbabwean culture. Senator Sithembile Mlotshwa (Matopo), called on scientists to develop a chemical to dull men’s libido and enable them to have sex once a month, purportedly to help curb the spread of HIV and Aids.
Poor education was blamed for poor motions in the House, but Mr Dube feels that it is not about the level of qualification which determines whether the person is capable in developing his or her constituency or not.
“Even if they do have poor qualifications what matters most is to understand people’s problems,” he said.
“A leader is someone who puts people at the same level and he should also be someone who will be able to analyse and research so that he/she will be able to solve problems faced by their people. As long as you are able to consult people, you make a great leader. To be a leader it does not mean that you are the cleverest.”
Mr Mpofu holds a different view, saying academic qualifications are indeed, important.
“It is now critical that we look at the candidates professionally. We need people who are a step ahead on basics because this is not the time for people to be in Parliament to get breakfast and lunch. Therefore, the country needs people who will concentrate on development and this is the time for citizens to be concerned with credentials rather than political affiliation. As the Global Political Agreement (GPA) shows the party is not answer to development,” he said.
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions secretary general (ZCTU) Mr Japhet Moyo ranks the Seventh Parliament as the country’s worst in 33 years.
“We had people in Parliament who had no other sources of income and people were shocked because they spent most of their time looking after their own needs. Their demands were too much. Workers were expecting them to tackle laws that would benefit them. At the moment labour laws have not been reformed and we also a saw a dull debate over the new constitution,” Mr Moyo said.
He added that the Parliament had been reduced to a rubber-stamping authority of the inclusive government.
“The Parliament was not independent. They were just taking instructions from the principals and this might have contributed to their dismal performance. Above all, this has been a poorest Parliament ever in Zimbabwe. They failed in most cases to do as expected but we must not totally rule that they were mere parcels in Parliament. They tried to make ministers accountable, as they kept asking ministers to come and explain some issues. Parliamentary portfolio committees were also bringing in tangible information.”
Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Ms Nomalanga Khumalo said citizens should understand that it is not the duty of parliamentarians to develop the constituency, as their role is to make laws. However, her view is contrary to the established roles of Parliament which, among others, entail developing their constituencies. It is for this reason that the Government made MPs chairpersons of CDF committees in their respective constituencies
She defended the consistent material demands MPs made during their five years in the House. Ms Khumalo praised the work they did, saying they tried to execute their duties when the country was unstable economically.
“It does not mean that we are not looking after our people,” she said.
“As parliamentarians, we need money for our living. When we do not have money or a car, how are we going to consult citizens and take their views to Parliament? It is also not good for people to get out of Parliament with nothing while they were busy shaping the country.”
Online Reporter
derick.khumalo