Opinion / Blogs
IMPORTANT Voter & Citizenship Info for Zimbabwe-born residents with SADC parents
09 May 2013 at 19:02hrs | Views
An Important notice for people born in Zimbabwe whose parents were citizens of any SADC country at the time of their birth, and for all this time been denied the opportunity to vote on the grounds that they are "Aliens".
This applies to all Zimbabweans whose parents in most cases originated from neighboring countries such as Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana or South Africa, you may now proceed to swap your IDs at the Office of the Registrar General and obtain one with a "C" instead of an "A". (The 'A' prefix on your ID is for Alien, 'C' for Citizen)
This means that you may now enjoy all other rights including the right to vote same as any other citizen and taxpayer. This process of regularizing your ID's is being done for free during this period of preparing for Elections.
All previously disadvantaged individuals should take this opportunity and regularize their identity documents. Those who lost their IDs or Birth certificates can equally go and have them replaced for free during this period.
Please share this information with other colleagues or anyone you know who might not be able to see it in time. In case of any difficulties at the Office of the Registrar General please consult your local MP or Ward Councilor who must stand ready to assist you.
This comes about as a result of sections 36 and 43(2) of the new Constitution - the latter says everyone born in Zimbabwe prior to the "effective date" - i.e. the date of the new constitution, one of whose parents was a SADC citizen and who is resident in Zimbabwe at the time of the new Constitution (important qualification because those who are overseas now will not qualify) are entitled to citizenship. The new Constitution was adopted on 19 March 2013.
This applies to all Zimbabweans whose parents in most cases originated from neighboring countries such as Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana or South Africa, you may now proceed to swap your IDs at the Office of the Registrar General and obtain one with a "C" instead of an "A". (The 'A' prefix on your ID is for Alien, 'C' for Citizen)
This means that you may now enjoy all other rights including the right to vote same as any other citizen and taxpayer. This process of regularizing your ID's is being done for free during this period of preparing for Elections.
All previously disadvantaged individuals should take this opportunity and regularize their identity documents. Those who lost their IDs or Birth certificates can equally go and have them replaced for free during this period.
Please share this information with other colleagues or anyone you know who might not be able to see it in time. In case of any difficulties at the Office of the Registrar General please consult your local MP or Ward Councilor who must stand ready to assist you.
This comes about as a result of sections 36 and 43(2) of the new Constitution - the latter says everyone born in Zimbabwe prior to the "effective date" - i.e. the date of the new constitution, one of whose parents was a SADC citizen and who is resident in Zimbabwe at the time of the new Constitution (important qualification because those who are overseas now will not qualify) are entitled to citizenship. The new Constitution was adopted on 19 March 2013.
Source - online
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