Zanu-PF MPs to forego luxuries

political party, we have a duty, and a role to play as we lay one stone on top of another (Ibwe pamusoro peibwe) to reconstruct and strive to attract not only foreign but also local investors,” said Cde Togarepi.

“We are aware of the many hurdles along the way but we will not be deterred in the march towards attaining Vision 2030,” he said.

He urged Zimbabweans to stay united to get the country working.

“There is so much at stake that we cannot be divided at this crucial juncture. We need to bring

back lost pride. We need to create employment and we need the strike by doctors to end,” Cde Togarepi said.

“Hopefully, teachers, civil servants and other public servants will also bear with Government as it seeks to rebuild the economy to ensure that in just more than a decade Zimbabwe will be a middle income country,” he said.

During debate on the 2019 National Budget, legislators from across the political divide united to demand an improvement of their conditions of service, including getting luxury vehicles and provision of a three course meal when on parliamentary business.

The MPs also demanded that Parliament provide them with gym facilities or to pay membership and subscription fees for them at sports clubs for recreational purposes, including enabling them to play golf.

In response to these demands, Parliament’s budget allocation was revised from $101 million to $145 million.

The demands were condemned across the political divide as insensitive to the plight of ordinary people being asked to endure a period of austerity as Government implements the Transitional Stabilisation Programme to turn around the economy. GOVERNMENT is considering setting up a fund to be accessed by higher and tertiary students struggling to provide collateral demanded by financial institutions providing educational loans.

Tertiary students have previously raised concern that they were failing to access student loans as they could not provide the collateral demanded by financial institutions. In the 2019 national budget presentation, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube allocated $8 million to Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Ministry that will be disbursed by financial institutions without demanding collateral.

In an interview yesterday, Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Amon Murwira said Government wants students to access loans.

“We are considering insurance or a risk fund for our