Zimbabwe: Children of illegal migrants face statelessness

Published: 20/Aug/2021
Source: The Zimbabwe Independent

BY KENNETH MATIMAIRE

THERE is a growing population of stateless children born to illegal Zimbabwean immigrants in foreign countries, new study reveals.

The study, titled Cursed with Statelessness: Consequences of Deprivation of National Identification Documents was conducted by the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP).

The research focuses on the challenges faced by children born in the diaspora and victims of political violence in acquiring national identity documents (IDs).

There is an estimated four million Zimbabweans in the diaspora who fled from political persecution and economic decay under Zanu PF’s misrule in search for greener pastures.

While studies on statelessness within the borders have been carried out, this becomes the maiden study that focuses on nationals in foreign land.

On one hand, the study identified a growing population of stateless children born in Zambia, Botswana, South Africa, Mozambique and Tanzania by Zimbabwean parents with or without passports, permits or any other travel document.

Read further: https://www.theindependent.co.zw/2021/08/20/children-of-illegal-migrants-face-statelessness/

Themes: Birth Registration, ID Documents and Passports, Statelessness
Regions: Zimbabwe
Year: 2021