Jane Mlambo| Opposition legislator Charlton Hwende has trashed the idea to have parliamentarians given diplomatic passports saying it cannot be done now when ordinary citizens are failing to access the ordinary passport.

According to Hwende, legislators must work to provide passports to ordinary citizens first.

He added that the MDC as a social democratic party must refuse to be equalized by the corrupt Zanu PF regime.

“Diplomatic Passports to MPs at this point in time when ordinary Zimbabweans who need to travel out of country for medical treatment, escaping the current economic hardships and to further their education are failing to access ordinary passports is not a priority

“We must provide passports first to ordinary Zimbabweans. Only after that can we consider Diplomatic Passports for our MPs. As a Social Democratic Party we must refuse to be equalized by The corrupt ZANU PF regime. We must stand and defend the toiling masses,” said Hwende while posting on Twitter.

We must provide passports first to ordinary Zimbabweans. Only after that can we consider Diplomatic Passports for our MPs. As a Social Democratic Party we must refuse to be equalized by The corrupt ZANU PF regime. We must stand and defend the toiling masses. @daddyhope

— Chalton Hwende (@hwendec) August 8, 2019

The chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade and Makonde legislator, Kindness Paradza recently made the announcement that President Emmerson Mnangagwa had approved the request for legislators to have diplomatic passports.

The issue has attracted wide criticism from the general public who felt legislators were losing the plot and now concentrating on enriching and benefiting themselves at the expense of the majority whom they purport to represent.

This also came shortly after MPs had demaded Toyota V8 vehicles as well as accommodation allowances.