Amid growing concerns over legislative priorities, the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Parliamentary Caucus Secretary, Farai Chinobva, has made controversial remarks suggesting that CCC legislators should capitalize on their terms in parliament to garner personal benefits.
The comments were allegedly made at a recent CCC Caucus meeting held at that party’s Belvedere offices which saw attendance from 54 CCC legislators, and was co-chaired by Chief Whip, Clifford Hlatshwayo and Chinobva himself.
According to a source who preferred anonymity, Chinobva outlined a series of proposals aimed at increasing the financial remuneration and benefits for CCC legislators. “Our time in parliament should be as an opportunity, and it is crucial that we maximize on it to accumulate benefits,” Chinobva reportedly stated.
The source said that the proposed benefits include salary adjustments to US$2000.00 payable in the local currency at prevailing rate and a separate component of US$1000.00. The same source added that during that meeting, Chinobva also advocated for accommodation allowances for Harare based legislators and an increase in fuel allocation. Moreso, the source said Chinobva said CCC legislators should push for each legislator to receive two vehicles, duty free certificates, and allowances for constituency visits and holidays.
The revelations from the source have sparked a debate in the CCC on the legislators’ commitment to public service versus self-enrichment. Political analysts, Nobleman Runyanga weighed in expressing deep concerns about the implications of Chinobva’s statement. Such propositions clearly demonstrate that there is a faction within the CCC that is not aligned with the people’s aspirations but is rather looking to benefit personally from their political positions”, said Runyanga.
Runyanga continued, “This is not just about salary increments; it’s the mentality that being in Parliament is a means to accumulate wealth. This goes against the ethos of serving the electorate.
Efforts to get a comment from Chinobva and CCC Spokesperson, Promise Mkwananzi were futile as their mobile phones were not reachable.
Source Byo24News
