Sleeping MPs: It’s their first time to be comfortable

Self-styled legislator Temba Mliswa has suggested that legislators slept during the State of the Nation Address (SONA) because it was their first time being comfortable.

Several legislators from across the political divide slept as President Emmerson Mnangagwa was delivering his SONA and setting the legislative agenda for the 5^th Session of the 9^th Parliament at the new Parliament building in Mount Hampden.

In an interview, the Norton legislator attributed the sleep to the comfort in the new building. He said MPs have endured a lot of suffering in the past session.

‘’You saw MPs most of them sleeping in that new Parliament. It’s because it’s the first time they have been comfortable because they have been sleeping in brothels, sleeping in cars, and denied entry into hospitals, and is that good for MPs?

‘’We must be honest and sincere about it. It’s not good so as a result they must be well accommodated, and they must eat well.

‘’Some have dietary requirements, and some are on medication. So what are we saying, we have to be inhumane because we are suffering? We have pushed for everyone’s agenda, whose agenda have we not pushed? I am one of the most qualified people to talk about this because I am well-resourced and it’s only now that I have gotten a car.

‘’Other cars I have never gotten from Parliament and so forth. So it is important that we respect the MPs. The problem is that we have people who grew up with other MPs and it becomes personal,’’ he said.

Zimbabwe is adding 10 more seats

Zimbabwe has 350 legislators combining the National Assembly (270) and the Senate (80). Commentators are of the view that the number is too big for a country the size of Zimbabwe. However, the government is going to add 10 more seats starting from the 2023 general elections under the youth quota system that was adopted through Constitutional Amendment No.2.

Sleeping MPs: It’s their first time to be comfortable