Buhera South legislator Joseph Chinotimba expressed outrage over the price of food at Parliament, citing in particular the cost of a bottle of Coca Cola and a plate of sadza.
Chinotimba said it is unacceptable that legislators were being forced to pay $4 for the fizzy drink at the Parliament canteen. Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda reminded Chinotimba to go through proper channels in raising his grievances. Mudenda also reprimanded other legislators for applauding Chinotimba and challenged them to read the Standing Rules and Orders. Said Chinotimba:
On a point of privilege according to Section 68. The price of goods is increasing and I have noticed that the origins of all these price hikes is emanating from Parliament. Parliament is selling the soft drink coca cola for a $1 and yet Delta did not increase anything. In the hotels also where Members of Parliament are staying, those same coca cola drinks are being sold at $4 yet again Delta did not increase the price of its products. I lay the blame squarely on the administration of Parliament especially those who are in the administration of welfare of Parliamentarians. As Members of Parliament, we talk to the public and they are complaining of price hikes of these food stuffs. Again, here at our Members’ Dining we are buying sadza for $3 and coca cola for $4. As Parliament, we are the perpetrators of the increase of these prices. I am begging you Mr. Speaker; let us protect the Members of Parliament. If the providers of canteen services at Parliament are not satisfied with the amount that they are getting and therefore feel they should increase prices so that the Members of Parliament suffer, do away with them. It is either that we provide our own food or we get alternative service providers. I thank you.
Yes baba Chinotimba is write to complain, but is he not the right person to control this madness. You won’t believe it, people are dying coz medication has gone up in a bad way. Well with sadza you can bring your own. How about the medication? Please Mr President control these crazy prices.
Please shut up and carry the cross your party has fashioned for all of us the suffering majority. Delta used to deliver soft drinks to retailers now they dont. The retailer now collects from Delta depots where he sleeps in the queue and spends long very hot hours in queues and many a times goes back to his shop empty handed. Who do you want to pay for the long working hours and the transport costs if not the consumer? Soft drinks are a luxury so dont buy them if you cannot afford them. Stop whining and fix the economy you and your party destroyed chasing stupid glory.