A House on fire

MAR 02 2016

One thought that Parliament was a privileged entity. Its inhabitants, meaning our worthy peoples' representatives, take cover behind the cloak of Parliamentary privilege at the drop of a hat. No member, at least theoretically, can be arrested without the sanction of the Speaker of Parliament. 'Dignity' and 'decorum' of Parliament are today hackneyed expressions that describe the sanctity attached to Parliament. Hence one is given the impression that it is the holy of holies, the sanctum sanctorum, not be belittled or trifled with. Or so one is inclined to think. Not any more though, going by a news item we carried in our front page yesterday headlined "Now Parliament under PRECIFAC probe".

According to the news item the Presidential Commission investigating Fraud, Corruption, Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges has launched a broad investigation into alleged mass scale acts of corruption, fraud and misuse of state assets which had occurred in Parliament in the past. Quoting reports, it states that waste, corruption and fraud committed ran into millions which were beyond estimation. There had also been various acts of corruption and fraud involving the repairs at the MPs' housing complex at Madiwela, granting of scholarships to high officials and the purchase of building materials and vehicles.

No mention is made of the colossal waste of food, which are discarded in mountains at the end of each sitting day. Here too there had been allegations of a favoured supplier being given the contract in the past.

So after all, there is a question mark hanging over the 'supremacy' of Parliament. It is no longer a no go zone, if the news item is to be believed. It is indeed a telling indictment on the country's supreme legislature that it is soon to be the subject of an investigation for incidents of fraud and corruption. Or has the August Assembly turned out to be the mirror image of its members (or most of them) who are now been trooped before various Commissions for acts of fraud and corruption. Who is responsible for this sad state of affairs?

One recalls an allegation made by Opposition members in the 89-94 Parliament over the purchase of a consignment of neckties by a high authority in Parliament. But the matter was not allowed to be raised by the Chair. This was perhaps the first instance that the public was given the impression that all is not well at the country's supreme legislature entrusted with the task of enacting laws. The latest revelation may only be the tip of the iceberg. They say a fish starts rotting from the head. It is hoped that this is not true of our Parliament.

An in depth investigation is bound to reveal the more serious incidents of fraud and corruption. True, Parliament being the behemoth that it is, there is no way to exercise close supervision of the activities of its various departments and sections. Besides, Parliament being what it is, its labyrinthian workings and functions are bound to escape close scrutiny. Prior to this we have never heard of any law enforcement authority or other investigative arm called upon to probe any irregularities or misdeeds in the Parliament administration, leaving the door wide open for the kind of fraud and corruption that has now come to light. Therefore it behoves on the authorities to clean up the mess and not leave room for any scandal to surface that would in the future mar the dignity of an August body like the country's Parliament.

It has been observed time and again that Parliament being what it is, dedicated to a task of the kind it is entrusted with, involving volumes of work, mundane matters such as supervision of the conduct of its staff, particularly the minor staff, has gone by default, leaving room for irregularities. Hence it is time that the Speaker, as the chief custodian of Parliament, exercises close vigilance and devise ways so that a close check could be kept on the inner administration and the vast subterranean functions of the Parliament. The House of Parliament is after all a sacrosanct institution in the eyes of the public, never mind the conduct of its members, and should always strive to be above board. If the country's supreme legislature becomes tainted by scandals it would send a wrong message to the public.

One of the allegations pertains to the purchase of a finger print machine for over Rs. 10 million that had been discarded after limited use. Such a purchase could not have been made without the knowledge of persons in authority in Parliament. Were tenders called for or was this machine merely dumped on Parliament at the instance of the then powers that be? It is indeed shocking, no less, to know that an institution such as Parliament which is the representative body of the country's people too has fallen victim to the type of shenanigans that were witnessed in almost all state bodies in the past. Whoever thought that the day would dawn when Parliament, of all places, would be the subject of a Presidential Commission of inquiry for fraud and malpractice?