Bulawayo News 24
By Takudzwa Chiwara
12th January 2018
The government should not prioritise the construction of a new Parliament at a time the country has limited schools and high unemployment, says former Bulawayo South MP David Coltart.
The Chinese government has pledged to bank roll construction of the new Parliament which will be constructed in Mount Hampden.
“I am fully in support of the Chinese loans for Harare airport and Hwange Power Station the construction of a new Parliament should not be a national priority – we need jobs first,” tweeted Coltart.
“This should be put on hold and the money used to construct schools.”
The current parliament building has become small as the government increased its members to 350. The National Assembly houses 270 while the senate has 80 members.
This increase was a result of an additional 60 seats reserved for women as brought about by the 2013 constitution.
Analysts argue that the nation has too many legislative members and government should reduce the size and merge some constituencies.
As of the year 2000, Zimbabwe had 120 constituencies, now it has 210.