By Correspondent
ZANU PF’s tactic to force through Constitutional Amendment Bill No3 has been the gift that keeps on giving for rogue opposition elements.
Finally the voting is here and ZANU PF, to the opposition’s hidden shock, has pushed for a public vote.
This is a scary scenario for all those who have been feasting on the gifts and now must pay.
They can’t sell out with plausible deniability. Or what looks like it!
We all can and will see who voted for what.
Trail of Benefits
It has been a long trail of slurping up easy gifts as ZANU PF has been steadily massaging them for long.
In 2022 Zimbabwean lawmakers and Ministers rreceived housing loans ranging from US$40,000 to US$500,000 each.
Several legislators told VOA Studio 7 that they signed an agreement with government for the provision of the money to purchase stands, which will be used as collateral.
One of the lawmakers, who declined to be named, said:
“We need this money because we get a monthly salary of US$200 and no other benefits.
“People are not happy with this but we had no option but to get the loans.
“We will use it to buy stands as it is impossible to buy a reasonable house with US$40,000 that we will be given by the government.”
Temba Mliswa, who was then Member of Parliament for Norton, said lawmakers have the right to get these loans.
In a series of tweets, Mliswa, who was the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Welfare Committee, said:
“MPs are the headmasters who watch over other arms of state.
“Why are we unsettled with their lesser benefits even against the humongous allocations for Ministers and Dep Ministers US$500K and US$350K respectively?
“Certain things are obligatory for certain positions!
“It’s paradoxical that we require effective representation but are not willing to fund it.
Cash Injection
Then there was the Political Parties Finance Act.
Under the Political Parties (Finance) Act parties whose candidates secured at least 5% of the vote are entitled to funding proportional to their share of the vote.
Due to the chaos that occured within the opposition it was always going to be fascinating as to who gets its share.
In line with its agenda the ZANU PF government sided with the Sengezo Tshabangu camp.
They were allocated US$1,696,166 from Parliament for its 30.7 percent votes share.
Meanwhile, ZANU-PF received ZiG102,343,972.50 (US$3,828,805) for securing 69.3% of votes.
For the Tshabangu opposition it was another massive injection and yet tied them further into debt to ZANU-PF.
Then The Hidden Handshakes
Reports lately have indicated that there is secret CAB3 war chest.
From it each MP will be getting US$10 000 to support the Bill when voting is done.
Though there are no official reports there are enough credible voices attesting to this.
Reportedly there has been a secretive scramble by many to receive the money.
According to Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi there is no room for bribery of legislators in the voting process of the Constitutional Amendment No 3 Bill.
He said systems and internal structures guide lawmakers in the conduct of parliamentary business.
However, that is hot air in Zimbabwean politics which is guided by stomachs.
The clearest effect and impact of money has been opposition MP Susan Matsunga, who was recently gifted a Toyota Fortuner by a Zanu PF-linked businessman, Wicknel Chivayo.
She has already publicly thrown her weight behind the #CAB3, arguing that there is “nothing in the opposition” and suggesting that it would be better for Parliament to vote for the President.
It’s a clear sign on the power of the many gifts which the opposition has been grabbing.
Once you receive them, get ready to discard all principles and tow the line.
While the public has been pestering for a secret vote, the rogue MPs also desire it.
But for different reasons!
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