MPs complain: We did not get money to visit our constituencies in 2021
Legislators have complained over delays by Parliament to pay them money to enable them to visit their constituencies last year.
During the 2021 national budget legislators managed to arm-twist the government to give them money so that they can visit their constituencies when Parliament is not sitting.
The legislators argued that some of their constituencies are too big and the fuel coupons they get are not enough to cover them.
Although the request was granted, the money did not come leading to the legislators expressing their displeasure.
Speaking in the National Assembly, Nkayi South legislator Stars Mathe without the money, legislators are not able to consult their constituencies as expected.
‘’Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to express my concerns regarding issues that are affecting us. My point of privilege is, we requested during the Budget presentation that we should go to our constituencies which are far apart, some as far as 177 kilometres. We requested that Parliament should capacitate us with resources so that we have access to constituencies.
‘’The budget was passed in 2021 and it got the President’s signature that we be given that money in 2021. We did not get that money during the whole of 2021 and now we are in 2022. We are not getting that fuel and we did not get that money so that we access our constituencies for us to perform our oversight role as we collect reports,’’ she said.
Honourable Mathe added that constituencies need to hear from their representatives and that the legislators also need to get advice from their constituencies.
‘’Mr Speaker, the fuel that we get from here is not enough for us to move around constituencies. Our constituents want to hear Parliamentary reports and they want to share with us what they want us to say in Parliament.
‘’If we do not receive the rural constituency funds, then we are not able to discharge our duties properly and we are forced to debate off-the-cuff without engaging our people. We end up expressing our own opinions instead of the people’s opinions. Why have we not received that money Mr Speaker?
Responding to Honourable Mathe, Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda promised that his office was going to deal with the matter.
He however castigated the legislators for allowing the year to end without raising the issue.
‘’Thank you Honourable Mathe. I heard what you said. We are going to assist you, but the problem is that you waited for the whole year before expressing your concern up to end of 2021.
‘’We are in a new year now and you are raising these issues after this long. The Speaker is in the office, so you need to inform the Speaker. My office is open, what are you afraid of Honourable Member?
‘’The Honourable Minister of Finance and Economic Development comes to the House, but you do not ask him, yet you will be facing these challenges. We need to introspect; we must not keep quiet about such issues. ‘’I heard your concern, I am going to take steps but please do not keep quiet if there are issues affecting you, do not suffer in silence. I heard you and we are going to assist you,’’ he said.
