Police harass MPs in parliament- Chinotimba

Zanu PF member of parliament for Buhera South Joseph Chinotimba has bemoaned harassment by police officers at the parliament building during the time when they enter the premises for sessions.

Speaking in parliament, Chinotimba said  they have problems with parking space in the car park, which is inadequate.

"You gave us parking space near the park but when we get here after 1 o'clock, it will be full. As I am speaking right now, it is full. I also want you to know that we are being harassed by our own police officers when we are parking our motor vehicles," he said. "They are now behaving as if our roles have been exchanged. They are now the Hon. Members and we are now the police. We are now being treated like slaves and we are not being accorded our due respect as law makers."

 "We cannot say staff should remove their cars from the parking area. They all have cars and they have filled up the car park. It would be in bad taste if we were to ask the members of staff to remove their motor vehicles from the parking area. When we want to park our motor vehicles at the front, we are threatened with clamping of our motor vehicles and ordered to remove our motor vehicles by the police."

He said MPs were now parking their vehicles on the pavement of private businesses.

"Police officers insulted me for parking. Should I bring my motor vehicle into the Parliament building? There is insufficient space in the House itself and you end up saying we run away, but it is because we are now taking shifts to park our motor vehicles and give each other space," he said.

"Whatever the issues, let us build the new Parliament so that we have enough sitting space and parking space. Not all of us are here because of the inadequate space. Some are outside and we are now taking shifts to be in the House."

Speaker of the house Jacob Mudenda said Chinotimba said a lot and he will make a follow up.

 "You have said a lot of things. That you are being harassed by the police, I have taken note of it and we will make a follow up. On the issue of parking space, I would want to believe that we are now getting to a point where we are going to remove our damaged vehicles so that we will have adequate parking space. Thirdly, you said that you go and remove your motor vehicles so that your colleagues can also park, that is incorrect," Mudenda said. "Were it correct I would not find a few MPs at 16.30hrs. The majority of you will have gone. Be honest and say the truth, you will have gone, completely gone for the day."

 He said it is true that the new Parliament building should be constructed.

"I believe next week we are going to meet with the Minister of Local Government, who was tasked with ensuring that the contractors to the new Parliament commence their work in earnest. We are meeting them on Monday next week," he said. "I was just saying we will encourage them to expedite the construction of the building so that within 18 months or so we will be having a new Parliament with adequate sitting and parking space."