MPs demand US$8 million from Copac

LEGISLATORS are demanding about US$8 million from Copac for the 90 days they were reportedly underpaid during the Constitution outreach.

They said the US$25 per day they received was way below the approved allowance of US$75 per day for any parliamentary business.

The parliamentary welfare committee is set to meet soon to discuss the matter and make a formal request to Copac.

"Copac is a committee of Parliament, so they cannot pay MPs money that is less than what was approved by Government," said MPs welfare committee member Cde Simbaneuta Mudarikwa.

"Copac isn't a political party that can say they don't have money. We are going to raise it in the welfare committee and in the August House because we cannot create a situation where Copac can just do whatever they want."

Cde Mudarikwa, who is Zanu-PF legislator for Uzumba, said all legislators across the political divide wanted the money backdated.

"We are going to engage Copac on this issue because first and foremost, MPs are entitled to US$75 per day for any parliamentary business.

"MPs are owed left, right and centre. It will only be proper for Copac to pay the outstanding amount.

"We will also ask Copac how much they got and how much they spent for accountability purposes."

It is understood that Copac members were paid US$75 per day whenever they met on business.

"All MPs doing any parliamentary business are entitled to the same allowances regardless of what they will be doing," said Cde Mudarikwa.

"No MP should be paid more than what other MPs are paid when they are conducting parliamentary business. There is, therefore, a disparity that needs to be addressed."

The outreach almost failed to take off in 2010 after a joint caucus of legislators demanded an increase in allowances from US$25 per day to US$75.

The MPs agreed to take part in the exercise after negotiators to the inclusive Government whipped them into line.

Copac national co-ordinator Mr Gift Marunda yesterday said if the matter was brought up, Copac would deliberate over it. He said rates used for the
outreach were not linked to parliamentary business.

"The rates we were working with had been approved. It is very unlikely that the matter will be revisited," said Mr Marunda.

"We were working with limited resources and besides, this was a different project. The rate regime we used was not applicable to Parliament.

"If the request is formally presented, then the Select Committee will deliberate over it. If there has to be any changes, they have to be approved by the Copac management committee."

Mr Marunda defended the US$75 paid to Select Committee members, saying they were meeting as a Parliamentary Committee, thus they were entitled to parliamentary rates.

Clerk of Parliament Mr Austin Zvoma distanced the August House from Copac business.

"Parliament administration has nothing to do with Copac. Copac is not under Parliament administration," he said.

Zimbabwean legislators are on record as saying they are the least-paid in the region.

They say MPs from other countries are paid about US$300 per sitting, while others receive US$13 000 per month in salaries.