News / National
Mugabe snubs MPs
26 Mar 2014 at 09:12hrs | Views
File photo: President Robert Mugabe holds a rosary as he attends the funeral of his sister Bridget in Zvimba, west of Harare. Mr Mugabe, who turns 90 next month, has outlived his five siblings, despite constant rumours about his health...
President Robert Mugabe has snubbed legislators on their quest to have diplomatic passports as he has already approved a list excluding law makers, parliament heard Wednesday.
Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Joey Bimha told a parliamentary portfolio committee on Foreign Affairs that President Mugabe has already approved a list of beneficiaries minus lawmakers.
"I was given a list approved by the president and cabinet and since MPs were not included, parliament can write to me and then I will discuss with my minister who will then take it up with His Excellency for action," Bimha said.
Makonde MP, Kindness Paradza pleaded with Bimha that lawmakers should be given diplomatic passports after their earlier proposal in December failed to yield anything.
"After our last meeting, we requested diplomatic passports; I wanted to ask how far have you gone with the issue?" Paradza asked.
In December last year, the committee which is chaired by Enock Porusingazi asked Bimha to facilitate diplomatic passports as well as their inclusion into foreign trips for Mugabe.
On Wednesday, the lawmakers pleaded to be given the diplomatic passports as well as be included on the list of government officials who sees off Mugabe at the Harare International Airport whenever he goes for state visits.
In his response, Bimha said he will engage the president's office and the security department to facilitate the request.
"The number will be limited, we wouldn't want a kilometre queue to see off the president. We shall talk to the chief of protocol about that," he said.
The lawmakers also requested that the ministry of Foreign Affairs fund a workshop on foreign affairs familiarisation to which Bimha said his office was broke but will engage partners and facilitate the induction training.
Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Joey Bimha told a parliamentary portfolio committee on Foreign Affairs that President Mugabe has already approved a list of beneficiaries minus lawmakers.
"I was given a list approved by the president and cabinet and since MPs were not included, parliament can write to me and then I will discuss with my minister who will then take it up with His Excellency for action," Bimha said.
Makonde MP, Kindness Paradza pleaded with Bimha that lawmakers should be given diplomatic passports after their earlier proposal in December failed to yield anything.
"After our last meeting, we requested diplomatic passports; I wanted to ask how far have you gone with the issue?" Paradza asked.
On Wednesday, the lawmakers pleaded to be given the diplomatic passports as well as be included on the list of government officials who sees off Mugabe at the Harare International Airport whenever he goes for state visits.
In his response, Bimha said he will engage the president's office and the security department to facilitate the request.
"The number will be limited, we wouldn't want a kilometre queue to see off the president. We shall talk to the chief of protocol about that," he said.
The lawmakers also requested that the ministry of Foreign Affairs fund a workshop on foreign affairs familiarisation to which Bimha said his office was broke but will engage partners and facilitate the induction training.
Source - Zim Mail
