MPs selling fuel coupons to augment pitful salaries
Legislators from across the political divide lamented over the pitiful monthly salary they earn, which has forced some to sell fuel vouchers to supplement their income.
Debating the supplementary budget last Thursday parliamentarians implored the finance minister to restore their dignity by paying them reasonable salaries.
Nkayi South legislator Star Mathe highlighted that MPs are resorting to selling coupons in order to put food on the table.
“Members of Parliament get their groceries from the (fuel) coupons. They sell (fuel)coupons.
“What kind of a Member of Parliament is that who goes around negotiating the price of coupons instead of fueling his car?”, Mathe said.
In agreement, Chipinge legislator Mathias Mlambo said when he was in Parliament in 2000 and 2008 MPs earned over US$2000 as compared to US$100 to US$180.
Mlambo tried his hand at selling the fuel coupons but was offered very little.
“Hon. Chairman, I do not know how you expect us to live. I tried the coupons but I got the PetroTrade coupons and when I asked how much I will get for a coupon, I was told US$22.
“We are living a hard life not befitting of Hon. Members of Parliament.
“Hon. Minister Mthuli, I think that whenever you shall become a Member of Parliament, you will then understand that our concerns were not misplaced.”, Mlambo said.
According to Hatfield Member Of Parliament Professor Tapiwa Mashakada, Zimbabwe legislators were the least paid in the region.
“Mr. Chairman, I sit in the Pan African Parliament (PAP) which is a continental body where we are about 250 MPs.
“We discuss our salaries and we are shy to disclose what we earn in Zimbabwe because the least paid parliamentarian at the PAP from countries like Zambia, Malawi, and so on, least paid MP gets USD1000.
“Countries like Kenya, the MP gets about USD13 thousand, Tanzania USD8 thousand, South Africa USD10 thousand, Ghana USD12 thousand.
“I can go on and on doing this benchmarking but when you talk of Zimbabwe, you get USD100 or USD200.
“It reduces the honourability of the MP to nothing. The dignity of the MP is at stake. We are supposed to carry the flag of the country but the MP’s salary is pathetic”’ Professor Mashakada said.
In addition, Makoni Central legislator David Tekeshe insisted that MPs were responsible for passing the budget but were poorly remunerated.
“Dear Minister, this salary we are getting is too little. In fact, there is nothing we are getting. It is our humble plea – we are the ones who pass these budgets but we are the lowest paid.
“The Ministers who do not do anything with regards to passing the budget are well paid and have good cars.”, he said.
Bindura Member of Parliament Remigious Matangira added, “We are under the Legislature but when we are paid ZWL65.000 and if we divide it using the official rate, it means we are getting equivalent of USD300.
“When we get hold of the money, we go into shops. Shops are saying USD1 is equivalent to ZWL1.000. If it is ZWL68.000, it means that I have been paid US$68.
“Where is the “ubuntu” from a such element? If I give my spouse my bank card to transact, they are told there is no money in the account and they know she is the MP’s wife. How do I move around in the constituency? “.
MPs selling fuel coupons to augment pitful salaries
