Commercial Farmers' Union of Zimbabwe

Commercial Farmers' Union of Zimbabwe

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Zimbabwe’s dual citizenship snag

Zimbabwe’s dual citizenship snag

http://www.bdlive.co.za

BY RAY NDLOVU, FEBRUARY 04 2013, 09:36

ZIMBABWE’s draft constitution deal reached last month by President Robert 
Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Industry and Commerce Minister 
Welshman Ncube could dominate proceedings in Parliament, which opens on 
Tuesday for its first session this year.

Legislators are widely expected to push through the compromise draft 
constitution adopted by the three principals, in an effort to edge the 
country closer to holding elections and end the four-year-old power-sharing 
government.

There are strong indications a referendum will be held either at the end of 
next month or in early April. A clash, however, looms between Mr Mugabe’s 
Zanu (PF) and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) over dual 
citizenship, for which the draft constitution does not make provision.

The draft recognises only Zimbabwean citizenship by birth, descent and 
registration. Zanu (PF) remains opposed to dual citizenship — fearful of the 
large numbers of diaspora-based Zimbabweans who would be constitutionally 
allowed to vote in the next election.

“There is no dual citizenship, and there will be no diaspora vote, the 
country does not have the funding for it,” Justice, Legal and Parliamentary 
Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa said. About 2-million Zimbabweans are 
estimated to be living in South Africa, with many having moved to the 
neighbouring country between 2000 and 2008 at the start of the land 
invasions and again at the height of economic decline. Those registered will 
have to return to Zimbabwe to vote.

Mr Chinamasa’s statements contradict those of Mr Tsvangirai who last month 
in Davos, Switzerland, insisted that the draft document would have a 
provision for dual citizenship. The MDC enjoys widespread support in 
Zimbabwe’s diaspora population and hopes to cash in this support for votes 
in the looming polls.

The failure to address dual citizenship, among other shortcomings in the 
draft document, has seen civic society group, the National Constitutional 
Assembly begin mobilising members to cast a “no vote” in the referendum.

Human Rights Watch warned last week that most Zimbabweans abroad could not 
return to vote for legal or financial reasons. It also said Zanu (PF) 
officials and members of the military were allowed to vote abroad, while 
others were not.

Zimbabwe Democracy Institute chairman Rashweat Mukundu said the country had 
been “led down a garden path” and undertaken a costly $50m constitutional 
exercise, only for Zanu (PF) to emerge the ultimate victor of the process. 

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