Press Statement Harmonised Election 2013: Voter Registration: Clarification on Aliens
Published: 1/May/2013
Source: Ministry of Justice (Zimbabwe)
The Honourable Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Hon. Patrick Chinamasa (MP) advised the public that all citizens of Zimbabwe who are 18 years and above are eligible to register as voters. This applies to the following persons:
Citizens by birth
- This refers to persons born in Zimbabwe where both parents arc citizens of Zimbabwe by birth; or
- Persons born in Zimbabwe where either parent is a citizen of Zimbabwe by birth, some of whom are holding aliens’ identity cards or documents.
It should be noted that there are different categories of “Aliens” as indicated below;
A child born in Zimbabwe where either parent is a Zimbabwean citizen by birth and the other parent being a foreign national who did not renounce foreign citizenship.
Any person who arrives in Zimbabwe and resides in Zimbabwe for a period of six months 01· more is issued with an identity document denoting the citizenship status as “Alien” (AA).
Refugees are classified as aliens (RFG).
The category of aliens we are referring to who qualify to register to vote are those person who are born in Zimbabwe where either parent is a citizen of Zimbabwe and those whose parents have been in Zimbabwe for a long time (prior to 1980). This covers children whose parents originated from Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, Botswana, South Africa, Tanzania, and others within the region.
Requirements for Voter Registration
Documents required for one to register as a voter:
a) Full original birth certificate for persons born in Zimbabwe together with;
b) National identity documents (metal, polythene-synthetic or legible green waiting pass with holder’s photograph);
Or
c) Valid Zimbabwean passport and;
d) Proof of residence.
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Exact date unknown; text as quoted in the High Court judgment in MDC T, MDC N and Kachingwe vs ZEC, Registrar-General, Minister of Home Affairs & ZANU PF (2017)