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ZEC press statement: Change of citizenship status
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission
June 30, 2013

Certain persons previously categorized as “aliens” are now entitled to Zimbabwean citizenship in terms of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. If such a person is the holder of a National Identity Document which reflects that he or she is an alien, he or she can apply to be issued with a National Identity Document that reflects that the person is a Zimbabwean citizen. There are two categories of such persons

a) Person born in Zimbabwe who has a Zimbabwean parent

In terms of section 36 of the Constitution a person is a citizen of Zimbabwe by birth if the person was born in Zimbabwe and when he or she was born either their father or mother was a Zimbabwean citizen or any of that persons grandparents was a Zimbabwean citizen by birth or registration.

In order to effect this change in status from alien to Zimbabwean citizen, he or she must bring the following documents-

• a National Identity Document reflecting “Alien”; and
• a full original Zimbabwean birth certificate to establish that he or she was born in Zimbabwe and one of their parents is Zimbabwean.

This process of changing status from alien to citizenship is free of charge.

b) Person born in Zimbabwe of parents from a SADC country

Section 43(2) of the Constitution provides that every person who was born in Zimbabwe before the publication date (22 May 2013) is a Zimbabwean by birth if-

• one or both of his or her parents was a citizen of a country which became a member of the Southern African Development Community established by the treaty signed at Windhoek in the Republic of Namibia on the 17th August, 1992; and he or she was ordinarily resident in Zimbabwe on the publication day.

In order to effect this change in status from alien to citizenship, he or she must bring the following documents-

• a National Identity Document, if any; and
• the full original Zimbabwean birth certificate; and
• proof of residence or affidavit

This process of changing status to citizenship is free of charge.

Any queries can be directed to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission officials who will be at the Registration and Inspection centres. If the assistance given is not satisfactory, please contact ZEC District Offices or Provincial Offices or ZEC Head Office on the following numbers:

Head Office: (04) 770340 /759130/774095
E-mail: inquiry@zec.org.zw

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