Millions of Zimbabweans living in exile could still be denied their voting rights under the proposed ZANU PF nationality programme.
The former ruling party's position paper on the new constitution proposes that on issues of citizenship and the bill of rights only children born in the Diaspora would be allowed duel citizenship. This paper is being distributed to party supporters in readiness for the constitutional outreach programme.
Analysts view this is a tactical maneuver by ZANU PF as millions of Zimbabweans in the Diaspora would potentially be disqualified from taking part in the next general election under a new constitution.
At least three million Zimbabweans are said to be living outside the country, the majority of them in South Africa, having fled political repression and poverty after a decade-long economic crisis blamed on Robert Mugabe's controversial policies, including his farm seizure programme.
Following the 2000 parliamentary elections, in which ZANU PF beat the MDC with the narrowest of margins (six seats) the government in 2001 enacted a law that stripped citizenship status and rights of close to 1.5 million Zimbabwean mine and commercial farm workers born of parents from Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia. This exercise resulted in statelessness for all these individuals who were also denied the right to vote in the 2002 Presidential elections.
Zimbabwe bars dual citizenship, and a 2003 amendment to the Citizenship Act tightened the law by requiring Zimbabweans who were once citizens of other countries or whose parents were once foreigners to formally renounce that 'foreign citizenship' in order to qualify for Zimbabwean citizenship.
Exiled former ZBC reporter and political analyst Bekithemba Mhlanga said it is common knowledge that ZANU PF is aware that probably the majority of that constituency in exile do not subscribe to ZANU PF politics.
"So they (ZANU PF) will try by hook or crook to stop people in the Diaspora from voting in Zimbabwe. But since this is a proposal by ZANU PF, it is not guaranteed that this will sail through Parliament under the current legislative set up. I regard this as election posturing," Mhlanga said.
Josh Chigwangwa, another exiled Zimbabwean living in the UK said the proposal by ZANU PF was 'very dangerous' in that it sought to separate children from their parents.
"Instead of embracing the national healing concept they still want to alienate the millions of Zimbabweans living in exile. This is why we are urging the inclusive government to make changes to the law where necessary to enable thousands of Zimbabweans who lost their citizenship, or who have acquired citizenship of other countries to participate in national affairs," Chigwangwa said.
Comments 1 to 1 of 1 Post a comment
Why is this, Mr Mugabe says that he has a demorcratic country. well this is a perfect opportunity for him to put his words into action and allow the people that he has chased and ethnically cleansed from their homeland the right to vote. He is denying them their birthright. He knows full well that if all Zimbabweans in diaspora were allowed to vote then he knows that they will all vote against him. If it were to be a fully transparent free and fair election he would have maybe at the very most 8 seats in parliament. The people have been denied their rightful government for too long and the even the Mhondoro spirits are crying out for vengeance for the innocent people to be given their rightful leaders, The saints in heaven weep over Zimbabwe. Hell just think of it this way, even hell is wanting revenge for ALL THE SO-CALLED HEROES, who have been sent down their to rot to be released from the dungeons especially set up for them. As Mr Julman says, total Empowerment.