New constitution to allow aliens to vote

ZIMBABWEANS of foreign origin, whose voting rights were stripped more than a decade ago by the Zanu-PF government over suspicion they supported opposition politics, could have their rights restored if the draft constitution voted for in a referendum last Saturday is enacted into law.

Thousands of aliens, mainly of Malawi, Zambian and Mozambican origins turned out in large numbers to cast their vote, but were turned away as the current law does not allow them to vote.

Section 34 and 35 of the draft constitution voted for by more than three million Zimbabweans at the weekend recognises citizenship by birth, descent and registration.

Aliens voted in the previous elections until 2000, but their democratic right was taken away when President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF government amended the constitution, outlawing dual citizenship.

Observers accused Mugabe of amending the constitution to punish aliens after the electorate overwhelmingly rejected the then government-driven draft constitution in 2000.

The move to ban dual citizenship also blocked white farmers, generally believed to be hostile to Mugabe following seizure of their land under the fast-track land reform programme, from participating in national elections.

During the drafting stage, Zanu-PF fiercely resisted dual citizenship, but later gave in after the process stalled.