'Aliens' can now vote of be voted for In Zimbabwe

In an interview after presenting the draft to Parliament, Copac co-chairperson Douglas Mwonzora (MDC-T) said the new draft included allowing people considered as aliens to vote or be voted for.

"On citizenship, the new draft allows the so-called aliens, that is, people born in Zimbabwe by Malawian, Mozambican and Zambian parents, to be regarded as citizens by birth with full rights including the right to vote and be voted for.

"It automatically allows dual citizenship for Zimbabweans by birth, while leaving the rights to dual citizenship by descent and registration to an Act of Parliament," Mwonzora said.

"There are a lot of positive highlights in this new constitution and the Minister of Local Government, Urban and Rural Development can no longer fire councillors and mayors under Chapter 14 of the draft.

"Harare and Bulawayo are also not going to have provincial governors, but are going to have executive mayors," Mwonzora said, adding posts for provincial governors for Harare and Bulawayo would be scrapped.

Comments