MPs negotiating for US$40 000 duty-free certificates for vehicles
Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda has told legislators to keep their fingers as they negotiate with Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube to be issued with duty-free certificates worth US$40 000 to import vehicles.
Legislators are on record demanding the duty-free certificates to import vehicles arguing that what they got from Parliament are now worn out.
The duty-free certificates are part of the many things that legislators have demanded from the government as part of their service perks.
A few years ago the legislators argued that they want to be at par with cabinet ministers in terms of perks.
Besides the duty-free certificates, the legislators also want to be paid an allowance for going back to their constituencies.
On a monthly basis, legislators receive a salary believed to be above ZW$70 000 and ZW$700 sitting allowance for each day they sit on Parliament business. This is outside the generous fuel coupons and vehicle loan scheme facility.
Responding to questions raised by Norton Legislator Temba Mliswa on the issue, Mudenda said they are likely to conclude positively on the duty-free certificates negotiations.
‘’On the issue of constituency offices, I have approved the proposal from our senior management led by the Clerk, and we should start any time now to build those offices.
‘’On the duty-free certificate for the vehicles, we are likely to conclude positively on that issue with the Honourable Minister of Finance and Economic Development. So, keep your fingers crossed accordingly,’’ he said.
Honourable Mliswa had asked if it was true that Parliament was negotiating for the certificates, adding that he had heard from the rumours. ‘’Mr. Speaker Sir, going to the point, we hear that through the negotiations held, there is a duty-free of US$40 000 for a vehicle. It is not official to us, and we do not know if it is true or not. We have not received any communication pertaining to that. For me, being independent and not being part of these political parties where they have caucuses, maybe I missed out something,’’ he said. –
MPs negotiating for US$40 000 duty-free certificates for vehicles
