News / National
Parliament turned into MPs' grievances house- Chamisa
15 Feb 2016 at 05:48hrs | Views
Kuwadzana MDC-T MP Nelson Chamisa has challenged the fellow members of parliament to stop turning the house into their own house of grievances thereby abusing tax payers' money.
Speaking in parliament Chamisa said he wanted to to amplify fellow members thoughts of concluding that it is very difficult for them to reduce Parliament into a grievances chamber for Members of Parliament.
"I think it is an abuse of the tax payers' money, national time because we own national time as a resource but that said and done, it is a very crucial issue that has been put forward by all Members of Parliament," said Chamisa.
"The point of order is that instead of you bothering yourself to respond Hon Speaker Sir; you are actually taking what is not your problem. The problem is to do with us as Members of Parliament; we do not know our powers."
Speaker of parliament Jacob Mudenda asked Chamisa to brief his point of order saying he will not allow statements.
But Chamisa had no kind words to that as he said, "Unless you are saying that I should abbreviate my thoughts to the extent of not making sense but to the extent that I cannot abbreviate any further, allow me then to have that space Hon. Speaker Sir. You may not see the wisdom of it but it is actually meant to help you."
But Mudenda insisted, "Be brief."
Chamisa said in that brevity spirit, Section 148 of our Constitution, deals with the immunities and privileges of Members of Parliament.
"If you look at all these issues, we have not resolved some of the issues that were raised by Members of Parliament, wherein Members of Parliament are then asked to come in to Parliament, being subjected to harassment and embarrassment," he said. "All those things, have not been resolved. We need the Immunities and Privileges Act to be amended so that we are loyal to our interests as Parliament."
He said more importantly, they have Section 153 dealing with the remuneration of Members of Parliament.
"We are the only Parliament where remuneration is not a sovereign remit of Parliament. We must be able to define what we are supposed to get because we define the budget of the country. For the reason that we do not know that, we allow other people to do it on our behalf. I hope that will be corrected," he said.
Mudenda later praised Chamisa for raising good points.
"You have raised very good points. In Ndebele and shona they say, ungatshaya inja ufihlu induku or usarove imbwa wakaviga mupini. Hon. Chamisa, you are one of the most important members of the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders. You are responsible for the legal issues in that committee. I am surprised – that you have paraded all these issues which are very pertinent. Unfortunately, these should be raised in the Committee on Standing Rules," Mudenda said.
"The Committee on Standing Rules must be seized with that matter. So, at our next meeting, come prepared with your proposals in terms of the Constitution. I am not allowing any further points of order. I see that there is a very good spirit hovering around here."
Speaking in parliament Chamisa said he wanted to to amplify fellow members thoughts of concluding that it is very difficult for them to reduce Parliament into a grievances chamber for Members of Parliament.
"I think it is an abuse of the tax payers' money, national time because we own national time as a resource but that said and done, it is a very crucial issue that has been put forward by all Members of Parliament," said Chamisa.
"The point of order is that instead of you bothering yourself to respond Hon Speaker Sir; you are actually taking what is not your problem. The problem is to do with us as Members of Parliament; we do not know our powers."
Speaker of parliament Jacob Mudenda asked Chamisa to brief his point of order saying he will not allow statements.
But Chamisa had no kind words to that as he said, "Unless you are saying that I should abbreviate my thoughts to the extent of not making sense but to the extent that I cannot abbreviate any further, allow me then to have that space Hon. Speaker Sir. You may not see the wisdom of it but it is actually meant to help you."
But Mudenda insisted, "Be brief."
Chamisa said in that brevity spirit, Section 148 of our Constitution, deals with the immunities and privileges of Members of Parliament.
"If you look at all these issues, we have not resolved some of the issues that were raised by Members of Parliament, wherein Members of Parliament are then asked to come in to Parliament, being subjected to harassment and embarrassment," he said. "All those things, have not been resolved. We need the Immunities and Privileges Act to be amended so that we are loyal to our interests as Parliament."
He said more importantly, they have Section 153 dealing with the remuneration of Members of Parliament.
"We are the only Parliament where remuneration is not a sovereign remit of Parliament. We must be able to define what we are supposed to get because we define the budget of the country. For the reason that we do not know that, we allow other people to do it on our behalf. I hope that will be corrected," he said.
Mudenda later praised Chamisa for raising good points.
"You have raised very good points. In Ndebele and shona they say, ungatshaya inja ufihlu induku or usarove imbwa wakaviga mupini. Hon. Chamisa, you are one of the most important members of the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders. You are responsible for the legal issues in that committee. I am surprised – that you have paraded all these issues which are very pertinent. Unfortunately, these should be raised in the Committee on Standing Rules," Mudenda said.
"The Committee on Standing Rules must be seized with that matter. So, at our next meeting, come prepared with your proposals in terms of the Constitution. I am not allowing any further points of order. I see that there is a very good spirit hovering around here."
Source - Byo24News
