MPs to stay at Elephant Hills Hotel for pre-budget seminar
Parliamentarians are going to spend about four days staying at the lavish 4-star Elephant Hills Hotel in Victoria Falls for the pre-budget seminar.
This was announced by the Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda recently.
As if that is not enough, the government which has no money to buy essential drugs for the health sector is going to fly the legislators to Victoria Falls using a chartered plane.
Besides the legislators, the seminar is also attended by other government officials such as ministers and permanent secretaries.
Accommodation at Elephant Hills Hotel consists of 276 luxury rooms, 11 executive suites, 1 deluxe suite and 1 presidential suite.
According to https://www.elephant-hills-resort.com/, luxury rooms cost US$160 per person, executive suites US$485, deluxe suites US$550, while the Presidential suite cost US$690.
Rooms to the east of the hotel look over the golf course and the
Zambezi River in the distance while rooms on the western side of the hotel have sweeping views of the Zambezi River.
MPs to fly into Victoria Falls
Making the announcement, Honourable Mudenda said ‘’I wish to inform the House that the Pre-Budget Seminar on the 2022 National Budget will be held from 22nd to 26th October 2021 at the Elephant Hills Hotel in Victoria Falls.
‘’Honourable Members who have not yet confirmed their attendance with the Public Relations Department must do so immediately. The information circular on the logistical arrangements for the Seminar will be shared by email to all Honourable Members.
‘’Honourable Members from Bulawayo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands and Masvingo provinces will drive to Victoria Falls while those from Harare, Manicaland, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East and Mashonaland Central Provinces will fly.
‘’A charter flight has been arranged for those that are flying and it departs from Harare on 22nd October 2021 at 0900 hours and arrives in Victoria Falls at 1000 hours. The return charter flight leaves Victoria Falls on 26th October at 0900 hours and arrives in Harare at 1000 hours,’’ he said.
Despite staying in the expensive hotel, the officials will also cash in on generous allowances.
Legislators have used the previous pre-budget seminars to demand luxuries from the government that include allowances for being in their constituencies, salary and sitting allowance increases, among other things.
In total Zimbabwe has about 350 legislators. However, some from that number have died while others have been recalled due to political fights in MDC.
MPs to stay at Elephant Hills Hotel for pre-budget seminar