Zim's former ministers, MPs, struggling to survive

SEVERAL former legislators from the last Parliament have fallen on hard times, with many seeking urgent loans from banks to be borrowed against outstanding allowances they are owed by Treasury.

The situation is so bad that some ex-MPs have failed to send their children to boarding schools this term. Others have had their properties attached after failing to service debts.

The former legislators have approached Parliament to get letters acknowledging that they are owed money by Treasury. They then use the letters to apply for loans from banks.

Former cabinet ministers have not been spared either as they are failing to maintain the lifestyles they led while in Government.

Parliament has since acceded to the request and is issuing letters to former legislators who want to borrow money from financial institutions.

The letters, titled "Letter of confirmation of subsistence allowance owed to former MPs" state that: "This letter serves to confirm that Honourable (name of person) who is former MP for (constituency) is owed (amount) in respect of his subsistence allowance.

"The Minister of Finance is still to provide funding for this purpose. Please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned should you need any clarification."

Signed by Parliament's principal director for finance, Bernard Zvamada, the letter was addressed to the branch manager of a local financial institution.

Deputy clerk of Parliament Kennedy Chokuda confirmed Friday that they had been writing letters for former MPs acknowledging they owe them money.

"We are aware of their plight. Once we are paid by Treasury, we will certainly pay them their outstanding subsistence allowances. We have been receiving requests from most of them for those letters and we have said we do not have problems in writing the letters.

"Whether the letters work or not we do not know but most of them have come to us saying they have approached a financial institution and it requires that letter," said Chokuda.
Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa acknowledged the debt in his 2014 National Budget proposals presented last month.

"Members of Parliament from the last Parliament, including ministers who served during the inclusive Government, have outstanding payment of allowances due to them. Treasury acknowledges this indebtedness, and will endeavour to honour the payment commitment towards Members of Parliament's allowances," said Chinamasa.

One former legislator said many in his position were struggling to pay school fees and had withdrawn their children from boarding schools and settled for day schools.

"Government should uphold the dignity of Parliament by paying us. It is not right that we are failing to meet our basic needs when we are owed money," said the legislator.

The ex-MP is owed more than $15 000 by Treasury.
Another former legislator said he accumulated debts because he believed Treasury would have paid him by now.

"I have approached one commercial bank which said if I bring this letter they can give me some soft loan. The branch manager said he can give me $5 000 against what I am owed by Treasury and for me I think it can go some way in mitigating my challenges," he said.

Another one said he would have to dispose his off-road vehicle bought through Parliamentary and buy a cheaper and manageable one.

Last year, Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda called for a safety net mechanism to ensure former legislators do not become destitute.

This was after some legislators complained that former MPs were wallowing in poverty.
The law says only those MPs who would have served for two successive Parliaments are entitled to a pension.