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MPs’ perks to go up
By
Gedion Munthali - 09-05-2002 |
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Parliament is waiting for the approval of the 2002-2003 budget to set aside more money for House committees and higher perks for MPs as approved last year.
Clerk of Parliament Roosevelt Gondwe said on Tuesday a seminar last year to develop ways to strengthen parliamentary committees recommended the increases, which were approved by the House.
But Speaker Sam Mpasu said yesterday it is wrong for MPs to increase their own salaries because the move gives the impression that people go into politics to make money.
“In some countries, Parliaments use private consultants to look at their needs and make recommendations to the House. This a more acceptable way of going about such things,” said Mpasu.
The seminar also recommended reducing committees from 18 to 12, and allocating sufficient funds to ensure that MPs get 50 percent of ministers’ packages.
“Some of the recommendations have already been implemented,” said Gondwe. “But those that have financial implications will await the approval of the national budget, so that we can see how they can be implemented.”
The report observed that Parliamentary funding was not enough to finance meetings of the House and its committees, while compensation for MPs and staff was low.
Lilongwe Msinja North MP Binton Kutsaira observed that the daily sitting allowance of K6, 000 was enough [for him], but other perks, like constituency allowances need revision.
Ministers get a monthly salary of K20, 000 while their deputies get K15, 000 They also get furniture allowances at K150, 000 and K120, 000 for five years, K150, 000 fuel allowance and K25, 000 housing allowance per month.
Apart from monthly salary, MPs are also entitled to constituency, motor vehicle and office allowances. It is not known whether they will also be entitled to monthly housing allowances like cabinet ministers.
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