Harare,  (New Ziana)-Dzivarasekwa Member of the National Assembly Edwin Mushorowa on Tuesday voiced concerns over deteriorating working conditions for lawmakers, following the tragic death of Nkulumane legislator Desire Moyo in a road accident recently.

Mushoriwa alleged that the delays in distributing their fuel allocations and other essential resources is compromising their safety and dignity. Moyo died in the early hours of October 10 this year when his vehicle collided with an elephant along the Gweru–Bulawayo Highway while on his way from conducting Parliamentary business in Harare.

He was travelling with four other legislators, Matobo’s Madalaboy Ndebele, Bulawayo Senator Rittah Ndlovu, Tsholotsho North legislator Libion Sibanda, and Matabeleland North Proportional Representative legislator, Sethulo Ncube, who sustained injuries in the crash.

During debate in the National Assembly on Tuesday, Dzivarasekwa MP Edwin Mushoriwa said the failure by the government to provide resources on time contributed to Moyo’s death.

“One of the reasons why Honourable Moyo and others were involved in an accident is that they received their fuel coupons around 8 PM in this Parliament. If Members of Parliament are not respected, if we are treated as third-class citizens in a country where we pass the National Budget, it just does not work,” he said.

Legislators have reportedly gone for months without receiving fuel allocations and other key support services needed to carry out constituency duties. Mushoriwa said MPs are being forced to take risks to meet their obligations, including travelling long distances at odd hours. “We do not live in this august House.

After this, we have to go to our constituencies. If we don’t, we won’t be voted back into Parliament. Members are doing everything they can for the citizens, but they are not being taken care of,” he said.

New Ziana