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Dual citizenship isn't an absolute necessity, says Mwanakatwe

Dual citizenship isn't an absolute necessity, says Mwanakatwe
By Mwila Chansa
Monday June 16, 2008 [04:00]

THE issue of dual citizenship for Zambia is not an absolute necessity, academician John Mwanakatwe has observed. And Mwanakatwe said although remuneration of freedom fighters was justified, there was no need to constitutionalise their benefits. In an interview at his Kabulonga residence, Mwanakatwe said the question of dual citizenship for Zambia was quite controversial.

“It is certainly not an absolute necessity for the people in Zambia today. That is my opinion, other people are free to hold their own opinions in a democratic state,” he said.

However, Mwanakatwe said provisions of the constitution needed to reflect the views of majority Zambians and if it was their wish that dual citizenship be included, then it should be adopted.

“In other words if the people of Zambia would like dual citizenship for whatever reason, then it can be adopted. I do not know what those good reasons would be,” he said
And Mwanakatwe said it was not necessary to constitutionalise the benefits of freedom fighters.

“I belong to the group of Zambian men and women who strongly feel that remuneration in one form or another of freedom fighters is justified and necessary,” he said. “However, how should that be done? Speaking as a senior lawyer in our country, I do not think it is necessary at all to make a provision in the constitution merely in order to promote the concept of remuneration or support for freedom fighters and their families.”
Mwanakatwe said the constitution should be used to provide for policies of importance today and for many years to come.

Mwanakatwe said in his opinion, this did not apply to the issue of finding support and livelihood for freedom fighters as this could be done by passing a law in Parliament that would authorise the provision of benefits in addition to defining the terms applicable.

He said passing a law in Parliament would be a better approach as the number of freedom fighters and their immediate families had been decreasing every year since independence.

“In other words, the need to remunerate and support freedom fighters is likely to be irrelevant in a short time hence forth,” said Mwanakatwe.

Labels: DUAL CITIZENSHIP, JOHN MWANAKATWE

posted by MrK @ 12:13 AM