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Chinotimba fights for diplomatic passport
16 Jun 2016 at 13:07hrs | Views
Buhera South MP Joseph Chinotimba has insisted on the need for all legislators to be issued with diplomatic passports without segregation.
"I held a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The question was that there are some Members of Parliament who were given red passports of privileges and some were not given," he said.
"When you look at the Parliament of South Africa even Hon. Malema was issued a red passport. If you visit Europe, for the reason that one is a Member of Parliament, they are issued with diplomatic passports. However, I have heard that there are a selected few who have been given that privilege. I am not feeling well, I just stood up, that is why today you hear that my speech is not as vibrant as I use to be."
He said they need clarification on that. Chinotimba also bemoaned disrespect MPs face on road blocks.
"We are not accorded that privilege. We are stopped and searched at every roadblock, yet I was voted into this position by my constituents. Why then should I be denigrated? I have also been told that the chairmen of portfolio committees. I am not only an MP but I am also a veteran leader of commendable background," he said.
"When I look back at myself, I went to Romania for training and I was given that diplomatic passport with privileges to go with. I went to Bucharest and many other places and I was given that honour and aura but now that I am an elected MP who fought for the freedom of his country, I am discriminated against. I am not given the privilege to hold a diplomatic passport and that really pains me. This may force me to give up my seat and just go and be an ordinary peasant in my rural home."
He said he asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs about the issue of the diplomatic passport and his response was; "the diplomatic passport does not concern me but it is up to the Speaker who is the one who selects who should get that privilege and who should be denied."
"Are you then asking us to go back to the people and ask them to vote for people who are favourites because as it is, we are inconsequential or nonentities," he said.
Responding to Chinotimba, Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa said passports were not a right but a privilege which is not enshrined in the constitution.
"I held a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The question was that there are some Members of Parliament who were given red passports of privileges and some were not given," he said.
"When you look at the Parliament of South Africa even Hon. Malema was issued a red passport. If you visit Europe, for the reason that one is a Member of Parliament, they are issued with diplomatic passports. However, I have heard that there are a selected few who have been given that privilege. I am not feeling well, I just stood up, that is why today you hear that my speech is not as vibrant as I use to be."
He said they need clarification on that. Chinotimba also bemoaned disrespect MPs face on road blocks.
"We are not accorded that privilege. We are stopped and searched at every roadblock, yet I was voted into this position by my constituents. Why then should I be denigrated? I have also been told that the chairmen of portfolio committees. I am not only an MP but I am also a veteran leader of commendable background," he said.
"When I look back at myself, I went to Romania for training and I was given that diplomatic passport with privileges to go with. I went to Bucharest and many other places and I was given that honour and aura but now that I am an elected MP who fought for the freedom of his country, I am discriminated against. I am not given the privilege to hold a diplomatic passport and that really pains me. This may force me to give up my seat and just go and be an ordinary peasant in my rural home."
He said he asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs about the issue of the diplomatic passport and his response was; "the diplomatic passport does not concern me but it is up to the Speaker who is the one who selects who should get that privilege and who should be denied."
"Are you then asking us to go back to the people and ask them to vote for people who are favourites because as it is, we are inconsequential or nonentities," he said.
Responding to Chinotimba, Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa said passports were not a right but a privilege which is not enshrined in the constitution.
Source - Online
