News / National
Draft charter only recognise Zim citizenship by birth, descent and registration
04 Feb 2013 at 11:16hrs | Views
THE draft constitution deal reached last month by President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Industry and Commerce Minister Welshman Ncube could dominate proceedings in Parliament, which opens on Tuesday for its first session this year.
A clash, however, looms between Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) over dual citizenship, for which the draft constitution does not make provision.
The draft recognises only Zimbabwean citizenship by birth, descent and registration. Zanu-PF remains opposed to dual citizenship - fearful of the large numbers of diaspora-based Zimbabweans who would be constitutionally allowed to vote in the next election.
"There is no dual citizenship, and there will be no diaspora vote, the country does not have the funding for it," Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa said.
Mr Chinamasa's statements contradict those of Mr Tsvangirai who last month in Davos, Switzerland, insisted that the draft document would have a provision for dual citizenship.
The failure to address dual citizenship, among other shortcomings in the draft document, has seen civic society group, the National Constitutional Assembly begin mobilising members to cast a "no vote" in the referendum.
A clash, however, looms between Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) over dual citizenship, for which the draft constitution does not make provision.
The draft recognises only Zimbabwean citizenship by birth, descent and registration. Zanu-PF remains opposed to dual citizenship - fearful of the large numbers of diaspora-based Zimbabweans who would be constitutionally allowed to vote in the next election.
"There is no dual citizenship, and there will be no diaspora vote, the country does not have the funding for it," Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa said.
Mr Chinamasa's statements contradict those of Mr Tsvangirai who last month in Davos, Switzerland, insisted that the draft document would have a provision for dual citizenship.
The failure to address dual citizenship, among other shortcomings in the draft document, has seen civic society group, the National Constitutional Assembly begin mobilising members to cast a "no vote" in the referendum.
Source - BDLive
