Maravi

Gen Tembo opposes dual citizenship

Gen Tembo opposes dual citizenship
By Mutuna Chanda
Wednesday June 11, 2008 [04:00]

FORMER Zambia Army commander Lieutenant General Christon Tembo has opposed the resolution by the citizenship committee of the National Constitution Conference (NCC) to allow dual nationality. In an interview on Monday, Lt Gen Tembo warned that Zambia's security wings would have to be extra alert if the new constitution allowed dual citizenship.

"In countries where dual citizenship is allowed, it is awarded sparingly," Lt Gen Tembo said. "Other countries will entice nationals for example from Zambia to hold dual nationality depending on the influence or the connections they have. So if it is adopted in the new constitution, security wings will have to be extra alert."

He said the complication that all people needed to be aware of was that of divided loyalty in cases where citizens held dual nationality.

"Citizenship is like marriage," Lt Gen Tembo said. "You get married to one spouse. The moment you start thinking of taking on another spouse then your devotion will not be equal between them. In this case when one is a citizen of a country, they are committed to their country but the moment they become a citizen of more than one country, then the commitment also becomes divided. Devotion to two countries is not advisable."
Lt Gen Tembo said should the forthcoming constitution allow dual nationality, Zambia would have to implement it under very close scrutiny.

"This is a matter that should not be treated casually," said Lt Gen Tembo. "There are many countries that allow dual citizenship. Normally it is allowed in professions that are not very sensitive. Businessmen who want to take advantage of certain kinds of businesses that are restricted to citizens only may want to hold dual citizenship. But certain types of work may require that one's original citizenship is set aside; for example in the intelligence service."

Last week, the citizenship committee of the NCC resolved to allow Zambians to hold dual nationality with citizenship of other countries where it was allowed.
However, the committee said those who may be required to renounce their Zambian citizenship would have to re-apply for re-admittance in the event that they wanted to retain their citizenship on return.

The re-admittance, according to the committee, would not be as lengthy as foreign nationals who applied for Zambian citizenship.

Labels: CHRISTON TEMBO, DUAL CITIZENSHIP, NCC

posted by MrK @ 4:30 AM