Zimbabwe: Dual citizenship: The people have spoken

Published: 5/May/2015
Source: The Herald (Harare)

Nick Mangwana View From the Diaspora

This writer was under the impression that the dual citizenship debate was now water under the bridge. How could it not be? First there is Chapter 3 in our Constitution, then there are the two cases of Mutumwa Dziva Mawere v Registrar- General and three others. This was one of the first cases to be heard before the ConCourt since its inception under the new Constitution.

Then there was the case of Farai Daniel Madzimbamuto v Registrar-General and three others. But here is a challenge to every Zimbabwean out there, check your passport. Even if you collected it yesterday you will see, “A citizen of Zimbabwe who is 18 or above may not be a citizen of another country. A citizen of Zimbabwe who makes use of the passport of another government commits an offence . . .”

The first thought was this was old stationery stock. But no, the new Constitution has been in effect for two solid years this May.

This issue cannot be hanging.

It is one of those constitutional issues that have already seen two challenges and yet appears to be still hanging.

There is an argument here that the legal issue has been settled by the highest court in the land which was constituted to safeguard and vindicate the citizens’ rights. Maybe it’s time to look at the moral argument of dual citizenship. Maybe here there is a case of a bureaucrat somewhere imposing their own personal sentiment and whim on a nation.

Read further: https://www.herald.co.zw/dual-citizenship-the-people-have-spoken/

Themes: Dual Nationality, ID Documents and Passports
Regions: Zimbabwe
Year: 2015