By CHUSA SICHONE –
GOVERNMENT is in the process of formulating a Statutory Instrument (SI) which will give guidelines on how to apply for dual citizenship.
Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo said the Government would soon start scrutinising the dual citizenship applications as President Edgar Lungu had appointed the Citizenship Board to oversee the process, including that of permanent citizenship.
Mr Kampyongo told journalists in Lusaka on Tuesday that the Government would give priority to applications by individuals who had renounced the Zambian citizenship to become citizens of other countries.
“We have made quite some progress, as you know there is a provision in the Constitution and we have already enacted an Act of Parliament which addresses this issue.

KAMPYONGO

“We are now just at the final stage of having the procedures through a Statutory Instrument, which will then prescribe the steps that people will require to follow in order to apply for this citizenship,” he said.
Mr Kampyongo noted that the previous citizenship clause was somewhat difficult to manage as some people were illegitimately enjoying dual citizenship and thus he was hopeful that the current provision would regulate that.
The amended Constitution, which came into effect in January, last year, states that a citizen shall not lose citizenship by acquiring the citizenship of another country.
It adds that a person who ceased to be a citizen, before the commencement of the Constitution as a result of acquiring the citizenship of another country, shall be entitled to apply for citizenship to the Citizenship Board of Zambia.