Zimbabwe’s dual citizenship snag
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.