Female proportional representative members of parliament (MP) are demanding money from the $5 million Constituency Development Fund (CDF) arguing that all MPs are the same and should have access to the money. The CDF is for the development of a legislator’s constituency while proportional representative MPs, have no constituencies, but are chosen by their parties for gender equality in Parliament.
MDC Matebeleland North proportional representative Lwazi Sibanda said:
We are equally the same, hence we make the request that as women representatives, we should be included in this budget so that we are able to deal with the issues that affect women
Bulawayo MDC proportional representative MP Thokozani Khupe also said:
The Member raised the point that there are women who sit in the Standing Rules and Orders Committee, who should have raised this issue. In the Standing Rules and Orders, it is clear that a Member of Parliament is a Member of Parliament regardless of them being Proportional Representatives or whatever.
However, the request was turned down by Parliament’s Legal and Procedural Affairs committee. The Committee said the money was meant for constituencies only and not for the legislators themselves.
More: Daily News
I think, what ever is happening in our country seem to be worrying many civilians ,if possible it might be wise for our leaders to consider working as a team to improve the economic status of our lovely Zimbabwe, a country with a lot of potential to be self reliant. Lets be responsible citizens, and stop complaining or pointing blaming fingures at each other, instead we should be complimenting each other’s effort. #Together we stand