Ruling ZANU PF legislator for Buhera South Joseph Chinotimba Tuesday said Members of Parliament (MPs) should be allocated with personal drivers.
Chinotimba said it was high time the government emulates what is happening in other countries in the region in terms of support for legislators. NewZimbabwe quotes the former liberation fighter as saying:
We must be having personal drivers and personal assistants and offices in our constituencies or at Parliament.
I went to the Parliament of South Africa and I saw a marvel. I spoke to Hon. Mthuli Ncube, can we not copy what is happening in these countries?
You find Hon. Speakers of Parliament having three drivers because just being seated in that august Chair is quite painful; you need at least three drivers.
A driver should not drive for 8 or 24 hours without being relieved. A driver should drive for four hours and be relieved.
This issue of the passing on of Hon. Chikomba hurts us.
As Hon. members of Parliament, we would like to say that if possible, I am glad that the Minister of Finance is here, we need to have a budget for Hon. members’ drivers.
I was saying the day before yesterday that the food that we eat in hotels every day costs almost $100 000 while we are earning $70 000.
The food that we eat per year could be $1.7 million. You would rather give a driver than to give me such food.
Chinotimba was paying tribute to late Gokwe-Kabuyuni legislator Leonard Chikomba who died in a car accident in May as he returned to his constituency from a Zanu PF meeting in the Midlands province.
Independent Norton legislator Temba Mliswa weighed in saying the food they are being given should be a balanced diet.