MASHONALAND East Provincial Affairs minister Retired Brigadier-General Ambrose Mutinhiri has castigated “lazy MPs” in his province for failing to “utter a single word in Parliament” or spearhead developmental projects for the benefit of their constituencies.
BY Jairos Saunyama
Speaking at the commissioning of Mutoko East information centre near Lot shopping centre in Mutoko on Saturday, Mutinhiri said the event marked the first developmental project initiated by a local MP since his appointment as minister in July last year.
The information centre, worth thousands of dollars, was constructed by Mutoko East legislator Ricky Mawere-Mubvumbi.
“We have 23 legislators or constituencies in this province, but this is the first time I have been called to officiate on a developmental programme,” he said.
“I need to tell other MPs what development is all about. These parliamentary information centres used to be funded by Parliament, but that is no longer the case.
“Parliament used to pay even the staff at the centre and this means the MP had to use other means, which is very commendable.
“I urge all MPs to embark on the journey to develop their constituencies. We have MPs who have not uttered a single word in Parliament since elected into office, something needs to be done.”
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The information centre is one of the structures to be built on the five-hectare piece of land before the construction of a tomato-canning factory in Mutoko.
Mutinhiri said he would force black granite miners in Mutoko to fund the construction of the canning factory as compensation for extracting the province’s natural resource for a long time without giving back to the community.
Meanwhile, Chief Mutoko, who also graced the ceremony, said he would not work with legislators who only appear in their constituencies during election time.
“We are tired of visiting legislators. Now that we are approaching 2018, they will now return to the constituencies, asking for favours and to be voted back. I am saying no to that. The MPs should be in their constituencies all the time,” the traditional leader said.
