Botswana: Government to amend Citizenship Act
Published: 12/Jul/2020
Source: YourBotswana.com
The Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs, Annah Mokgethi says the ministry will present to Parliament proposed amendments to the citizenship act. She said this during a meeting addressed by the Vice President Slumber Tsogwane in Sefhare and Mahalapye on Friday.
Minister Mokgethi said the amendments will protect those with dual citizenship from automatically losing their Botswana citizenship when they fail to renounce.
“With the current act, any person with dual citizenship automatically ceases to be a citizen of Botswana unless they renounce the other nationality upon reaching the age of 21 years,” she said.
Minister Mokgethi further noted in the meantime, those who have already lost their Botswana citizenship have been informed to apply for the resumption of their citizenship as dictated by section 17 of the citizenship act. The government considering amending the Citizenship Act is not news, especially since President Mokgweetsi Masisi ascended to power. However, past efforts have not sought to overhaul the Act but rather cherry pick bits of it and introduce various caveats. Quite why the government is so reluctant to allow full fledged dual citizenship remains a mystery.
Read further: https://yourbotswana.com/2020/07/12/government-to-amend-citizenship-act/