EDITOR - In the Zimbabwean, vol 5 No. 30 of 28 July, there is an article Justice about understanding citizenship in the Constitution-making process. In the article it is correctly stated everyone born in Zimbabwe is a Zimbabwean citizen by birth if, when he or she is born, either of his or her parents was a Zimbabwean citizen. (Pictured: Robert Mugabe)However, I am surprised that you have not commented on the implications of the provisions. Since Zimbabwe and Zimbabwean citizenship only came into existence on 18 April 1980, it follows that there were no Zimbabwean citizens before that date.
Consequently, anyone born in this country before that date cannot be a citizen by birth because it was not called Zimbabwe then and neither of his or her parents could have been Zimbabwean citizens at the date of the birth. A person born in this country before that date can only become a Zimbabwean citizen by registration.
The Head of State and of Government and Commander of the Defence Forces, President Mugabe, was born 86 years ago. Neither of his parents could have been Zimbabwean citizens at the time of his birth because there was no Zimbabwe, so he cannot be a citizen by birth. He can only become a citizen by registration. Similarly, the Vice Presidents, the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Ministers, the Senators, and the members of Parliament are not citizens by birth.
Most of the people who were Zimbabwean citizens before the date when Constitution Amendment No.19 came into effect have also lost their citizenship. Constitution Amendment No. 19 was presented to Parliament by Chinamasa, the so-called Minister of Justice. There was no provision inserted in the new Chapter II dealing with citizenship that all existing Zimbabwean citizens would retain their citizenship. Was that due to incompetence or was it deliberate so that the forthcoming elections could be delayed by claiming that only Zimbabwean citizens are entitled to vote? JUSTICE L.G. SMITH, by e-mail
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