Opinion / Columnist
Can Zimbabwe be divided into two countries as envisaged by the Mthwakazi group?
21 Jun 2017 at 15:49hrs | Views
Can Zimbabwe be divided into two countries as envisaged by the Mthwakazi group?. Is it legal or is it plausible to divide Zimbabwe into two sovereign states?
The answer is, YES! A country is a legal person in the eyes of law. A good example of a country which was divided into two, is Sudan (South Sudan and Sudan). One may argue and say that, but Zimbabwe is a small country?
That does not matter, in terms of international law. A state can have a population of 150 000.An example of that is, Nauru (Western Sahara people), with a population of 10 000 (recognised by UN as a state) and the Pitcairn Island(recognised by UN as a state), with a population of 60. Even the san people can petition to have their own state. It does not matter that they live a nomadic life.
Thus Mthwakazi can be a state. To further illustrate this, international law has prescribed four criteria that qualify a territory to be recognised as a state by UN.
These are:
1. a permanent population,
2. defined territory,
3. government (can be put in place), and,
4. capacity to enter into relations with other states. So, ponder over this issue using the criteria stipulated by international law. I reserve my rights not to declare whether I am for Mthwakazi or not.
This is just an eye opener to many who did not know that it can be divided. I am also not inviting anyone to petition for that, this a free world, any person may choose what they want to do.
The answer is, YES! A country is a legal person in the eyes of law. A good example of a country which was divided into two, is Sudan (South Sudan and Sudan). One may argue and say that, but Zimbabwe is a small country?
That does not matter, in terms of international law. A state can have a population of 150 000.An example of that is, Nauru (Western Sahara people), with a population of 10 000 (recognised by UN as a state) and the Pitcairn Island(recognised by UN as a state), with a population of 60. Even the san people can petition to have their own state. It does not matter that they live a nomadic life.
Thus Mthwakazi can be a state. To further illustrate this, international law has prescribed four criteria that qualify a territory to be recognised as a state by UN.
These are:
1. a permanent population,
2. defined territory,
3. government (can be put in place), and,
4. capacity to enter into relations with other states. So, ponder over this issue using the criteria stipulated by international law. I reserve my rights not to declare whether I am for Mthwakazi or not.
This is just an eye opener to many who did not know that it can be divided. I am also not inviting anyone to petition for that, this a free world, any person may choose what they want to do.
Source - Anonymous
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