Opinion: Ipads for MPs Volume 3

“UPDATE: Parliament has procured Ipads for all Members of Parliament to ease their work, Deputy Speaker Anita Among has announced” (Daily Monitor, 29.07.2021).

This isn’t new… it seems like every parliament since 2013 have gotten this. The Parliament have ordered, procured and delivered Ipads to all MPs. This means the 527 MPs will get each one. The MPs have also in the past gotten computer equipment as well. Therefore, don’t be shocked if they are getting everything they needs.

This is an issue since the 9^th Parliament. Where the same MPs haven’t even been willing to return the borrowed equipment, which they was only getting because they elected to represent and had as a part of the office. So, when they were leaving the office, the stuff needed for that should be returned.

The procurement of Ipads isn’t the biggest one. It is neither an essential either. This is a luxury for the MPs. Who are getting allowances, sitting fees, cars and whatnot. Including new Ipads as well. That is said to help the Parliament in its work and the plenary sessions, as the Ipads are instead of the documents the MPs need to form an argument and follow the minutes of the session. However, the MPs could have afforded this easily with their salaries and all the incentives they already have.

The Ipads just like the vehicles is a lack of priority. It shows that the expenses of the MPs is covered. These folks can easily eat and get luxurious items as a part of their office. For being the representatives of the people. They are getting electronics and vehicles. Huge salaries, allowances and all the other perks. Surely, we have heard MPs complained about the lunches and dinners provided to them in the past as well.

The MPs are used to get things for free and allowed to give themselves big raises. So, expect that to happen in the 11^th Parliament as well. They are just continuing with the same schemes and agreements. They are getting huge pay-offs and a big pay-day for their job. While the state cannot afford to do the basics. That’s why the public outrage over these expenses is reasonable. Peace.

11th Parliament First Pay-Off: Each MP get’s Ush. 312m for new cars!

“A total of 165 billion shillings is urgently needed by Ministry of Finance to procure new vehicles for the 527 newly elected MPs” (NTV Uganda, 26.01.2021).

It is estimated that each Member of Parliament (MP) is getting Ush. 312 million shillings or about $84,600 US Dollars. If you want a decent sedan in the Republic that costs about Ush. 50 million shillings or about $13,500 US Dollars. So, the MPs have an easy access to not only posh cars, but also ability to pocket the money too. Some could even pay-off campaign debts and other expenditure for the campaign period.

This is a clever way of compromising the MPs. We are also seeing the state is doubling the amount of money spent from one term to the next. As in 2016, the Ministry of Finance wanted Ush 85 billion shillings. Now in 2021 they want to double that plus some with 165 billions shillings.

In regard to that. The Parliament have grown substantially between the two terms. The 10^th Parliament had 459 MPs, but the 11^th Parliament will have 527 MPs. That is a stark rise in the amounts of Representatives in the August house. That is why all the costs of operation and expenditure of the state will grow. That is happening without any significant growth in the tax-base or domestic income for the state. This is adding the bill without a plan for how to pay it.

To give and make car expenditure such a big sum of funds. The MPs is getting a lavish payout and a huge envelope just after the elections. This is a giant pay.-off and a token of what’s to come. We expect funds for “suits” and whatnot too. The MPs already have perks, salaries and compensations, which is making them wealthy from the get-go.

The MPs have the ability to enrich themselves while in office. The state is funding their lives, but not compensating them for representing a constituency, but they are able to get wealth. The MPs can with the job get rich and live like successful businessmen. That is what they can. There is so many avenues and means of living large. That is created by them and they have plenty of ways to get paid.

The spending on the cars is just one out of various schemes to give the MPs money. That not to talk about the NRM MPs who can go to NRM Caucus before a favourable vote can get envelopes too. That has happened in the past and wouldn’t be shocking, if that happens in the 11^th Parliament too. That is the sort of game the General does. He compromise his MPs with “cheap” money to get his will. This will happen again and the MPs will be eaten by their greed.

The MPs will get a salary, allowances and whatnot. This is just the first one. The state does this and will continue to do so. Because, the “High Above” and the General is supporting this. Since this compromise them and get them in his pocket. Peace.

URA: Clarification Regarding the Ban of Importation into Uganda of used Motor Vehicle Aged Fifteen Years and Above (01.10.2018)

New York State Law: 3 inches of snow on the Car is illegal!

The new amended law of 17^th January 2017 that was sponsored and co-sponsored by members of the Committee of Transportation and we’re delivered to the New York State Assembly. This law which contains all in three and set a standard that is ridiculous, but also says something about the Metropolitan life New York.

When their State Representatives needs this measure against snow:

“§ 1229 e. Clearance of snow, sleet, and hail. No person shall operate a motor vehicle on a public street or highway while there is an accumulation of snow, sleet, or hail on the roof or cargo bed surfaces thereof, whether of any occupant compartment, trailer,  or other cargo compartment in excess of three inches.

8 2. The removal of accumulated snow, sleet, or hail required by subdivision one of this section shall not apply during the falling of snow, sleet, or hail or within three hours after the cessation of the falling thereof”

The New York State officials and Representatives must be afraid of snow. When 3 inches is an issue, if you convert from inches it is estimated to be 7.62 cm. In Norway you have to have 30-40 cm on the roof of a moving car if you should get fined or called traffic-danger. So the reasonable doubt of snowfall and such is different between the State of New York and Norway. In Canada, which is also famous for much snow the rules are about 7-10 cm of snow. Therefore the New Yorkers are living very fragile lives and fearful on their roads. If not that is what their representatives belief.

That cars full of ice and snow is a danger, it’s without a doubt since the driver need as much vision and clear space to see the other vehicles and movement while driving. As a Scandinavian I know about the dangers and the feeling of driving with little window who is cleared before driving. When being a passenger in car with little cleared window you feel unsecure because of the near-enough vision of the driver while driving on the road.

So that a driver should focus on clearing his windows and warming up his car to unfreeze the windows, should be common sense, but that 3 inches is very little and even nearly any snow. Shows how the New Yorkers aren’t really used to snow or driving in snow. If not how little the representatives believe the drivers and such of New York are capable, when the Norwegian and Canadian laws are more lenient. There have to very little and nearly any snowfall before the drivers has to stop and clear the windows.

So New Yorkers with cars. Strict traffic rules are apparently your thing! Peace.

Press Release: SAMWU Disappointed by the Enactment of the Public Administration Management Act

 

 07 January 2015

The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) is disappointed by the enactment of the Public Administration Management Act by President Jacob Zuma in December 2014. Although SAMWU agrees with some of the content of the legislation, we however view the Act as unconstitutional and will definitely erode the gains that organised labour has made through collective bargaining as envisaged by the Labour Relations Act.

The Act seeks to among other things, to promote high standards of professional ethics in public administration, to promote efficient service delivery and to facilitate the eradication and prevention of unethical practices in the public administration. All this is to be achieved by putting in place basic values and principles which would govern public administration. The Act further seeks to develop capacity for officials, we hope that Chapter 4 of the Act will be used as a tool to empower and develop the lowest paid workers particularly municipal workers some of whom are paid as little as R50/day. 

SAMWU has and continues to be proponents of ethical and transparent government especially in our sector- local government. We hope that the enforcement of the Act will trickle down to all spheres of government starting with national government. We are however of the view that National Government should set a precedent of dealing with state resources. As such, we are concerned by the enforcement of this Act. Although the Act provides for the creation of an Integrity Unit which will be responsible for the enforcement of this Act, there seems to be no willingness by the state to put in place monitoring mechanisms of other legislation in the country. Certain legislations are in place such as the Ministerial Handbook, however we still have incidences where one man buys a R1 million BMW at the state’s cost while another spends R5 million on luxury vehicles in a single year, this being done while the Ministerial Handbook stipulates that these people may only purchase vehicles not exceeding 70% of their annual salaries.

The signing of this Act is but a realisation of most arguments that SAMWU has advanced for a long time. The Act requires officials seeking employment or already employed in the public administration to disclose their financial interests including that of their spouses for any shares, sponsorships, benefits and immovable property. Failure to make such disclosure by an employee would constitute misconduct. The Act further makes it illegal for any public administration official to do business with the state. SAMWU has and continues to be of the view that no official should be do business with the state as this plays a role in corrupting officials. 

We are however concerned that the Act only targets officials not acknowledging that in any corrupt relationship there is a corruptee and a corruptor. In the interest of Public Administration Management, the Act should be extended to political office bearers. Truth of the matter is that politicians are responsible for most of the corruption witnessed in government, they are in pole position to influence the direction that government business goes, history has taught us that this is how many politicians have managed to enrich themselves. The country needs an act that is cut across and is inclusive of everyone who is involved in the supply chain and procurements that all spheres undertake, including political office bearers. 

The 2012/2013 Auditor General’s report into Municipalities has shown that most municipalities received the audit outcomes they received as a result of contracts being awarded to companies which officials had interests in. One cannot measure the prevalence of the problem but clearly doing business with the state has become profitable for some individuals. For the state to enjoy sound and healthy finances especially in local government, there should be an overhaul of the manner in which municipalities conduct their business, local government should re-municipalise. The provisions of municipal services though contracts and tenders has neither been in the interest of service delivery nor kind to the public purse, if anything we have only seen privatisation of municipal services and the emergence of tenderpreneurs who charge municipalities ridiculous amounts compared to the costs that municipalities would have incurred if they were rendering such services on their own. 

Overall our view is that this Act is unconstitutional on the basis of its selectivity between political office bearers & public servants. Furthermore the Act seeks to give power to integrity unit to preside over disciplinary matters. The Basic Conditions of Employment Act is clear that such matters are subject to negotiations at bargaining councils. The laws of this country must apply to all equally and there no reason why politicians should receive preferential treatment. We should note that the LRA takes precedence over any labour matters, the LRA further gives a platform for the establishment of bargaining councils and the Act undermines their existence. Our fear is that by virtue of secondments, those who refuse the secondment may be victimised or even worse dismissed for refusing to move to another sphere of government.  

The act further undermines the recruitment and selections policies that already exist in all spheres of governments. We are further concerned that the Act may be used to lure skilled personnel from local government to other spheres of government. SAMWU has long maintained that there should be devolution of powers, that certain functions performed by provincial government should be returned and / or handed over to local government as they are primary functions of municipalities. Provincial government tend to attract skilled personnel who are at the end of the day not uterlised to the best of their abilities by provincial government whereas they can service communities better if they were employed by local government.

Statement by Walter Theledi, General Secretary 

Issued by SAMWU Head Office

Papikie Mohale

National Media Officer

South African Municipal Workers’ Union

84 Fredericks Street

Johannesburg

2001

M: 0604166661

T: 0111002615

E: Papikie@samwu.org.za