A former MDC-T MP has joined the trek by Zimbabweans to neighbouring South Africa, where he is doing menial jobs.
BY XOLISANI NCUBE
Anadi Arnold Sululu (45) is the former Silobela MP and he believes his “riches to rags” story mirrors that of many Zimbabweans that risk everything to earn a living under tough conditions in Africa’s biggest economy.
“I am trying my luck here. Things are not well back home, so I have to work here in one of the companies. I am trying to make a living,” Sululu told The Standard on the sidelines of the Prophetic Healing and Deliverance ministries leader Walter Magaya’s crusade held in Pretoria early this month.
“Only God has the answer. That’s why I am here, maybe things can change, otherwise it’s tight,” Sululu said.
He added: “I am not here by choice my brother.”
He was among thousands of Zimbabweans who thronged Magaya’s service in South Africa, hoping to find solutions to their problems.
The former legislator said it was not his first time in South Africa, but admitted he was finding it difficult to survive in that country.
“My brother, I have been here before and worked here. I am now a resident of South Africa, although my home is Zimbabwe,” he said.
“But things are not rosy at all here; we are being made slaves all because we have a disorganised government that does not care for its citizens.
“We are doing menial jobs so that we sustain our families.”
Sululu’s case is not unique. Many legislators have fallen on hard times after losing their seats in the 2013 elections.
While Sululu might be driving a modest car in South Africa, many of his former colleagues are wallowing in poverty, with some having their property attached over debts.
Former MPs from the Seventh Parliament are owed in excess of $1 million by government in unpaid allowances.
They had at one time planned to march to Parliament to demonstrate against what they said was “abuse” by the State.
Mutare senator, David Chimhini said most former MPs had fallen on hard times despite the fact that government owed them between $10 000 and $15 000 each.
“We have some who are dying without getting their money, for example Misheck Kagurabadza from Manicaland,” said Chimhini.
Kagurabadza died early this year after an illness.
Chimhini said the ex-lawmakers would have been better off had government honoured its obligations.
The Mutare legislator made his way back into the Senate following the expulsion of Patrick Chitaka who defected to the People’s Democratic Party led by ex-Finance minister Tendai Biti early this year.
Another MDC-T legislator, Alexio Musundire said even current MPs were now surviving through cross-border trading.
Musundire said this while debating a motion he had introduced in the National Assembly calling on government to disburse finances allocated to political parties through the Political Parties Finances Act.
Seconding the motion, MDC-T chief whip Innocent Gonese said lack of financial support for MPs left them wallowing in poverty.
“People think MPs are swimming in money when actually we are wallowing in poverty,” he said.
“When people see us going to South Africa or China, they think we are going there for holidays when in fact we are doing cross-border trading.”