Over $5 million will be gobbled by Members of Parliament in allowances and accommodation in Victoria Falls. At least US$500 000 will b...
Over $5 million will be gobbled by Members of Parliament in
allowances and accommodation in Victoria Falls.
At least US$500 000 will be spent on accommodation for the
five days for the 350 legislators. Elephant Hills charges $248 per night for a
single guest.MPs from Masvingo and Matabeleland were given fuel coupons so they
could drive to Victoria Falls while legislators from other provinces flew from
Harare.
An MP who spoke to the Standard said they were paid $3 200
in per diems ahead of the seminar. This means that more than $1 million will be
splashed on per diems for conference delegates.
MDC secretary-general Chalton Hwende yesterday defended his
party’s participation at the seminar despite the costs, saying there was no way
they could have boycotted.
“Pre-budget seminars are always held out of Harare and we
can’t boycott the budget process because we must fight and ensure that it is
pro-poor,” he said.
“If you look at the quality of debate that we raised at the
seminar and the issues that we brought to the fore on behalf of our
constituencies, you will realise that it was more than important for us as MPs
elected on an MDC ticket to be there.”
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