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Citizenship issues
Prominent
Zimbabwe investor in court over tough citizenship laws
Peta Thornycroft,
VOA News
September 01, 2006
http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-09-01-voa47.cfm
One of Zimbabwe's
richest and most controversial businessmen, John Bredenkamp, was
in court Friday defending himself against allegations he violated
tough citizenship laws. Bredenkamp, who invested heavily in Zimbabwe
since independence in 1980, now faces up to two years in jail on
the charges.
When he was
first arrested in July, the state press claimed Bredenkamp, who
has business interests in several countries, was wanted for allegations
of massive fraud. When the case got to court, the only charge was
under the Immigration Act, which does not allow Zimbabwe citizens
to hold any other passport.
The court heard
Bredenkamp has been stripped of his Zimbabwe citizenship, because
the government found out he had a South African passport.
Bredenkamp told
the court he has never used the South African passport in Zimbabwe.
He said he has only used it to enter or leave South Africa.
His lawyers
told the court that Zimabwbe's citizenship laws could not apply
outside the country.
State prosecutor
Fungai Nyahunzvi said the citizenship laws were plain, and that
no one with a Zimbabwe passport could also use another country's
passport, without permission from the government.
He said the
South African government confirmed it had issued Bredenkamp a passport,
and had also provided information to Zimbabwe police that he had
used it 65 times.
Bredenkamp owns
several businesses and a large farm close to Harare. The farm is
one of the most densely populated wildlife conservancies.
He is one of
about 10 percent of white farmers who have been allowed to remain
on their land since President Robert Mugabe began seizing white-owned
commercial farms six years ago.
Magistrate Tapiwa
Godzi said he would hand down judgment next Friday.
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