News / National
Zimbabwe diasporas to get dual citizenship
26 Feb 2019 at 20:29hrs | Views
Cabinet has approved the amendments to the Zimbabwe Citizenship Bill which will pave way for dual citizenship for citizens by birth especially those in the Diaspora.
Addressing a post-Cabinet press conference, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa said they were renaming the Citizen of Zimbabwe Act to Zimbabwe Citizenship Act in line with the envisaged changes.
"Following a presentation by the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, cabinet approved the principles for the amendment of the Zimbabwe Citizenship Bill as part of the ongoing process of aligning the country's laws to the provisions of the Constitution.
"Key provisions of the amendment include; permitting of dual citizenship for citizens by birth, establishment of a board to oversee the granting and revocation of citizenship by descent and registration and the requirement for applicants by registration to have resided in Zimbabwe for 10 years, contrary to the current requirement of five years," Mutsvangwa said.
When one is recognized as a citizen it provides the individual with various benefits such as the right to register and vote in elections, the right to unrestricted entry and stay in a country, access to health services and other socio-economic human rights.
The development will see every Zimbabwean citizen by birth especially those in the Diaspora being entitled to dual citizenship and that the law will not require them to renounce their foreign citizenship before he could be issued with a Zimbabwean national identity document.
Addressing a post-Cabinet press conference, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa said they were renaming the Citizen of Zimbabwe Act to Zimbabwe Citizenship Act in line with the envisaged changes.
"Following a presentation by the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, cabinet approved the principles for the amendment of the Zimbabwe Citizenship Bill as part of the ongoing process of aligning the country's laws to the provisions of the Constitution.
"Key provisions of the amendment include; permitting of dual citizenship for citizens by birth, establishment of a board to oversee the granting and revocation of citizenship by descent and registration and the requirement for applicants by registration to have resided in Zimbabwe for 10 years, contrary to the current requirement of five years," Mutsvangwa said.
When one is recognized as a citizen it provides the individual with various benefits such as the right to register and vote in elections, the right to unrestricted entry and stay in a country, access to health services and other socio-economic human rights.
The development will see every Zimbabwean citizen by birth especially those in the Diaspora being entitled to dual citizenship and that the law will not require them to renounce their foreign citizenship before he could be issued with a Zimbabwean national identity document.
Source - businesstimes
