The National Assembly (NA) says the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) should take responsibility for paying six of the party’s parliamentarians who were removed from the initial parliamentary list.
This comes after the Supreme Court in 2022 ruled that six PDM members were unlawfully removed from the 2019 election parliamentary candidate list and should be sworn into the NA.
They are Frans Bertolini, Charmaine Tjirare, Yvette Araes, Maximalliant Katjimune, Raymond Diergaardt and Mike Venaani.
PDM member of parliament (MP) Tjirare on Wednesday called on the NA to give clarity on the lack of payment for the six members who missed out on the parliament.
Tjirare, in her notice of questions to minster of justice Yvonne Dausab, questioned the NA’s adherence to laws and judgements.
“We have come to the realisation that the NA has developed a tendency of disregarding laws and judgements,” she said.
Tjirare has demanded clarity on the matter.
She said since their swearing-in, the six have not been compensated for the time they missed in the parliament.
However, NA secretary Lydia Kandetu says this responsibility lies with the party.
She says the concerns raised by the six members are not relevant to the NA, and that they should approach their party instead.
“We have explained to the member about the situation and she understood. The NA does not select people to come to the parliament. That is done by the parties.
“In this case, the PDM made the mistake and should compensate the members,” Kandetu says.
She says the six MPs cannot be compensated for the losses they are demanding, since they were never sworn in.
Kandetu says the PDM failed its members for bringing the wrong people to the parliament in the first place.
Meanwhile, PDM president McHenry Venaani yesterday said the court made a clear ruling that its conduct was not malicious and that new MPs will not be compensated.
“It was not even a prayer in their case, hence, demanding it now is without cause,” he said.
Venaani said both the parliament and the PDM are guided by the court ruling.
“Although I am sympathetic to the colleagues, their previous income and lifestyles were intact until coming to the parliament,” he said.
