MPs scared of polls? They demand a cumulative US$23m to include compensation

in salaries and allowances backdated to the beginning of their current tenure and want additional hefty payoffs if their terms of office are abridged with the holding of elections next year.

The legislators’ demands have prompted speculation that most of them are unsure of retaining their posts in the impending elections.

It emerged yesterday that both House of Assembly members and senators want to be paid an average monthly salary of US$ 2 500 backdated to the start of their tenure 32 months ago plus compensation if their terms are cut by two years.

The MPs have already petitioned three Government ministries namely the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs and the Ministry of Public Service seeking the money.
If the State accedes to the demand, each MP will receive a lump sum of around US$80 000 minus the compensation for the abridged tenure.
The 202 House of Assembly members and 93 senators will subsequently draw a cumulative US$737 500 in monthly salaries from the fiscus.

Members of the seventh parliament were supposed to serve until 2013 but their terms of office are likely to end next year if elections go ahead as hinted by the President.
In their petition to the three ministries, the MPs argued that they should be compensated for the premature end of their tenure as they used their financial resources campaigning for a full term.
The chairman of the House of Assembly’s welfare committee, Cde Paddy Zhanda (Zanu-PF), yesterday confirmed that the MPs had tabled the monetary demand, adding that their working conditions and remuneration were so poor that they were effectively subsidising the Government.

“When we talk about elections we are talking about money. It is an expensive exercise. The MPs demand something from Government. MPs wasted a lot of money in campaigning with the hope that they would serve for five years,” said Cde Zhanda without quantifying the amount they needed as compensation.

He said the MPs were finding it hard to survive on their current salaries which averaged US$300 per month.
“The US$300 that we get is the same amount that we use for fuel, repairs of vehicles, tyres and our survival. The MPs are getting peanuts. Why should we continue subsidising the State?
“We are making our point clear. We are not greedy but the trend is promoting corruption. How much are people in the municipalities earning? How much are people in parastatals earning? With a modest salary of US$2 500, we can survive and the same money will still go back to Government in the form of taxes,” said Cde Zhanda.

MDC-T chief whip Mr Innocent Gonese said MPs had not been receiving allowances for their duties.
“What we are clamouring for are improved working conditions. Generally, MPs are supposed to get allowances for sitting, constituency development and motor vehicles, which have not been paid,” said Mr Gonese. 
The MPs’ demand is likely to spark a lot of debate on the Government’s capability to fork out the money amid claims that most of them are afraid of failing to retain their seats if elections are brought forward to 2011.

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