Zimbabwe govt dismisses 'statelessness' report

The Zimbabwean government has strongly criticized an Amnesty International report that highlights the marginalization of migrant workers and their families due to the country's discriminatory and arbitrary nationality laws.

The report, titled "We Are Like 'Stray Animals'," launched in April 2021, details the impacts of statelessness in Zimbabwe, linking the issue to colonial history.

Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Secretary Raphael Faranisi, speaking before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, Defence, Security, and War Veterans, dismissed the report as outdated, stating it covers events prior to April 2021. He argued that the report misrepresents historical issues to evoke unnecessary emotions and tarnish Zimbabwe's image, ignoring government efforts to address past issues, including those related to Gukurahundi.

Faranisi mentioned that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has pledged US$300,000 to help Zimbabwe address statelessness. He noted that the government had planned a study with UNHCR in 2023 to investigate statelessness but financial constraints delayed it. According to UNHCR, approximately 300,000 people in Zimbabwe were at risk of statelessness as of April 2021.

Faranisi emphasized that claims of statelessness must be thoroughly investigated to verify their validity, warning against granting citizenship based on findings from Amnesty International and civil society organizations. He assured that the government's Active Notification of Birth and Death project would address statelessness issues and stressed that any cases of statelessness are not due to deliberate government policy. He also highlighted past government campaigns on civil regulations, suggesting that some people might have missed these opportunities.