Zimbabwean MPs in big pay demand

Zimbabwe’s legislators have threatened to block the passage of the country’s 2011 budget if they are not given at least US$200 000 (Sh16m) each for their constituencies.

The Members of Parliament (MPs) are also demanding that Finance Minister Tendai Biti sets aside funds to pay them at least $3000 (Sh240,000) in salaries a month.

Currently, the legislators’ earn an average of $400 a month and the latest demands come in the wake of threats by the MPs that they would demand compensation if their terms are cut short to pave way for elections expected next year.

President Robert Mugabe is insisting on early elections two years after he formed a unity government with his former rivals, which means the legislators cannot serve their five year terms that end in 2012.

The legislators who early this year also demanded luxury vehicles every year for use in their constituencies claim that they are the lowest paid in the region.

“The budget has continued to show its ugly face by putting civil servants and MPs into abject poverty under the pretext that the country is poor,” said Mr Paddy Zhanda who chairs the parliamentary portfolio committee on budget and finance.

“This attitude cannot be allowed to continue as it perpetuates corruption and has a negative impact on this country.” Last month, Zimbabwe’s Finance Minister Tendai Biti proposed a $3,2 billion budget for 2011.  

Out of that budget, $1, 4 billion was set aside for civil service remuneration which was almost twice the $773 million allocated in this year’s budget.

But for the budget to be adopted it has to be first approved by the MPs before it is taken to the Senate.

Meanwhile, the Senate has resumed sitting a month after it was forced to adjourn indefinitely following protests by members of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s party over the presence of provincial governors who were unilaterally appointed by President Mugabe.

Mr Tsvangirai has since challenged the appointments in court and South African President Jacob Zuma has also tried to help end the impasse.