News / National
Aliens urged to claim Zimbabwean citizenship
30 Jun 2013 at 22:34hrs | Views
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) has urged persons previously categorised as aliens to claim Zimbabwean citizenship and apply for national identity documents reflecting the changed status.
In a statement yesterday, Zec said the process of changing status from alien to Zimbabwean citizenship was free of charge.
"Certain persons previously categorised as 'aliens' are now entitled to Zimbabwean citizenship in terms of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. If such a person is a holder of a national identity document, which reflects that he or she is an alien, he or she can apply to be issued with a national identity document that reflects that the person is a Zimbabwean citizen," read the statement.
The electoral body explained that there were two types of aliens who now have the right to Zimbabwean citizenship. They are those born in Zimbabwe when either of his or her parents are Zimbabwean and those born in Zimbabwe of parents from a Sadc country.
"There are two categories of such persons. In terms of Section 36 of the constitution, a person is a citizen of Zimbabwe by birth if he or she was born in Zimbabwe and when he or she was born either their father or mother was a Zimbabwean citizen or any of that person's grandparents was a Zimbabwean citizen by birth or registration.
"For the persons born in Zimbabwe of parents from a Sadc country, Section 43(2) of the constitution provides that every person who was born in Zimbabwe before the publication date, 22 May 2013 is a Zimbabwean by birth if one or both of his or her parents were a citizen of a country which became a member of Sadc established by the treaty signed in Namibia in 1992, and was ordinarily resident in the country on the publication day," read the statement.
Zec advised that aliens wishing to apply for Zimbabwean citizenship were required to bring their identity documents and full original birth certificates to establish that they were born in Zimbabwe and one of the parents is Zimbabwean.
The electoral body said those born in Zimbabwe of parents from a Sadc country were also required to bring proof of residence or affidavit, in addition to the identity documents, to effect changes in status from alien to Zimbabwean citizenship.
In a statement yesterday, Zec said the process of changing status from alien to Zimbabwean citizenship was free of charge.
"Certain persons previously categorised as 'aliens' are now entitled to Zimbabwean citizenship in terms of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. If such a person is a holder of a national identity document, which reflects that he or she is an alien, he or she can apply to be issued with a national identity document that reflects that the person is a Zimbabwean citizen," read the statement.
The electoral body explained that there were two types of aliens who now have the right to Zimbabwean citizenship. They are those born in Zimbabwe when either of his or her parents are Zimbabwean and those born in Zimbabwe of parents from a Sadc country.
"There are two categories of such persons. In terms of Section 36 of the constitution, a person is a citizen of Zimbabwe by birth if he or she was born in Zimbabwe and when he or she was born either their father or mother was a Zimbabwean citizen or any of that person's grandparents was a Zimbabwean citizen by birth or registration.
"For the persons born in Zimbabwe of parents from a Sadc country, Section 43(2) of the constitution provides that every person who was born in Zimbabwe before the publication date, 22 May 2013 is a Zimbabwean by birth if one or both of his or her parents were a citizen of a country which became a member of Sadc established by the treaty signed in Namibia in 1992, and was ordinarily resident in the country on the publication day," read the statement.
Zec advised that aliens wishing to apply for Zimbabwean citizenship were required to bring their identity documents and full original birth certificates to establish that they were born in Zimbabwe and one of the parents is Zimbabwean.
The electoral body said those born in Zimbabwe of parents from a Sadc country were also required to bring proof of residence or affidavit, in addition to the identity documents, to effect changes in status from alien to Zimbabwean citizenship.
Source - chronicle
