Legislature is about bettering the lives of the people- Speaker Shongwe

Legislature is about bettering the lives of the people- Speaker Shongwe

Speaker of the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature Mrs Thandi Shongwe has called for redirecting of Legislature resources towards core business which include oversight and public participation. These cost curtailment measures implies that spending on goods and services like travelling and catering shall be minimised. Speaker Shongwe further said this will affect mostly catering for different meetings taking place the Legislature.

"Legislature is about improving the lives of the people and not consuming goods and services during our meetings in a manner that does not touch the lives of the people. She said members and staff shall from now be exempted from the provision of breakfast for ordinary committee meetings and other associated costs shall be  cancelled

Speaker Shongwe said all this at the end of the two days medium term strategic planning session for the Mpumalanga Legislature.

All members of the legislature, senior management and staff supporting committees attended the meeting. The legislature has since adopted and reconfirmed the vision of the legislature as “A people-centred African -World Class Legislature".

Speaker Shongwe had earlier emphasized the need to strengthen the oversight function of the legislature and ensure that the publics are the main priority in the work of the legislature. She directed the members and staff to work together but also encouraged them to refocus their energies in increasing the reach out to the people.

The Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature has since dedicated the 2014/15 financial year as the year of a Voter