Millions of Zimbabweans with parents whose backgrounds could be traced back to neighbouring countries such as Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, DRC and Tanzania, were left stateless when they were declared non-citizens in the early 2000s. This move was seen by critics as a way of excluding mostly farm workers from voting as they were suspected to favour regime change.
The new constitution says every person is a Zimbabwean citizen by birth if “one or both of his/her parents was a citizen of a country which became a member of the SADC established by the treaty signed at Windhoek in the Republic of Namibia on 17 August 1992.”
The new constitution allows those classified as ‘aliens’ to regularise their identification documents and register as voters. The window period to register is 30 days after the new constitution comes into law.
Nemakonde Yahya (28) said he was happy to regain his lost Zimbabwe citizenship. “I can now easily apply for travelling documents and travel to other countries like every other Zimbabwean,” said Yahya.
He said lack of citizenship had hindered his efforts to migrate to neighbouring countries to seek greener pastures during the economic turmoil of the past decade.
Selemani Mbwana (23) said he was excited to regain his citizenship status as it would allow him to tap into national programmes.
“For many years I have been marginalised and could not participate in developmental programmes such as indigenisation and empowerment,” he said. “I am now eligible to apply for a loan under the Government’s Youth Fund to start my own project.”
Sheik Sufiyani Yusuf (53) said it was one of the biggest mistakes government had ever made to disenfranchise and relegate ‘aliens’ to second class citizens.
“Most of us migrated from Malawi and Zambia during the Federation of Nyasaland, Northern and Southern Rhodesia in the 1950s and since then we have worked at mines and farms towards the development of Zimbabwe before and after independence,” he said.
Yusuf said it was painful to note that a government he helped bring into power at the 1980 elections had deprived him and others in his situation the right to nationality and land ownership.
He said Government should do away with the term “alien” when referring to fellow Africans.
“Zimbabwe should emulate countries such as Saud Arabia which have policies granting people citizenship once they master Arabic.
“We are not even sure whether the next government will come and amend that section which has made us regain our status,” he added.
Political analysts Pedzisayi Ruhanya it was unfortunate that the so called aliens were previously denied their citizenship right on political grounds.
“Restoration of one’s dignity through citizenship is a fundamental aspect of one’s life. It restores one’s self work as Zimbabwean,” he said, adding that it would be payback time in the next election as the so called ‘aliens’ could take aim at people who humiliated them.
Post published in: News