Zanu PF has rejected dual citizenship and running mates in the draft constitution.

The party said by allowing dual citizenship many Rhodesians would find a way back to Zimbabwe. It said people with divided loyalties had no place in the country. The issue has been a major sticking point in the constitution-making process. There was no agreement and dual citizenship was referred to Parliament.

But Zanu PF has come out strongly against dual citizenship. The other political parties support dual citizenship as they acknowledge that millions of Zimbabweans were driven out of their country when Zanu PF ran the economy into the ground.

Zanu PF has said the constitution-making process which began three years ago had been mired in controversy with allegations that COPAC smuggled some views that did not come from the people.

Zanu PF analyst, Mr. Goodson Nguni, said by rejecting the concept of dual citizenship Zanu PF was protecting Zimbabwe’s revolution and its gains and ensuring that the same values that the liberation struggle was fought for are not eroded through the constitution.

He noted that if the concept had been adopted Rhodesians would be able to vote and derail the gains of the struggle.

“It is good that the concept of dual citizenship was rejected. You cannot have people with divided loyalty. The Rhodesians will come back and claim this country,” he said.

National Constitutional Assembly chairperson, Professor Lovemore Madhuku said the concept of running mate never came from the people, but was adopted by negotiators from the Americans who have such a system.

He said, “We held our meeting with people and they never said they wanted the running mate. It was a creation of the negotiators and it is good that it was removed.”

The proposed amendments will now be put up for discussion by the principals in the Global Political Agreement who will decide and pave the way for the second All-Stakeholders meeting and the referendum. Newsdzezimbabwe