Thursday, March 28, 2024

Prof Clive Chirwa Debunks the Myths held by President Sata on Dual Citizenship

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President Sata with Children at the function hosted for him by Zambians in UK
President Sata with Children at the function hosted for him by Zambians in UK

By PROFESSOR CLIVE CHIRWA

Introduction

THE First Draft Constitution of the Republic of Zambia of 30th April 2012 proposes Dual Citizenship for its subjects under Article 18.

This reads and I quote: “XVIII-i: A citizen shall not lose citizenship by acquiring the citizenship of another country; and XVIII-ii: A citizen who, before the commencement of this Constitution, acquired the citizenship of another country and, as a result, ceased to be a citizen shall be entitled to apply to the Citizenship Board of Zambia to regain that citizenship”

This is not new.

It is what we have been recognising for centuries through tribal routes. Before Zambia became a country it had kingdoms or enclaves with traditional leaders who accepted dual citizenship because in many occasions they had to inter marry to keep sanity and community development.

Background

As a landlocked country bordered by eight countries it is natural that this tradition continues into modern times and cannot be stopped by demarcations created superficially by the colonisers of Africa.

Indeed, traditionally land locked countries like Zambia, such as Switzerland, Luxemburg, and Austria with dual citizenships have always recognised and encouraged recognition of their citizens through Jus soli (Latin for right of territory) means you are a citizen of say Switzerland because you were born there; or Jus sanguinis (right of blood) which means you are a citizen because one or both of your parents are, through birth; and the third is through a successful completion of the naturalization process.

[pullquote]If I was born three centuries ago in Central Africa, I would have been recognised to possess multi-citizenships as a Chewa (Jus sanguinis) through my father, as a Bemba (Jus sanguinis) through my mother and as a Lamba (Jus soli) since I was born in Mufulira and just being a Mufken.[/pullquote]

We have for Centuries recognised similar dual citizenship through our traditions and it is the right time to revive those traditions.

If I was born three centuries ago in Central Africa, I would have been recognised to possess multi-citizenships as a Chewa (Jus sanguinis) through my father, as a Bemba (Jus sanguinis) through my mother and as a Lamba (Jus soli) since I was born in Mufulira and just being a Mufken.

Thanks to Dr Kenneth David Kaunda the first Republican President of the Republic of Zambia who saw the necessity to encourage and promote this in modern times. The results are there for all to see in terms of being the only country in Africa that has never experienced war and that has true democracy yielding a more cohesive national identity of Zambia.

This must continue and must be inscribed in the pages of the Republic of Zambia Constitution so that every citizen in the country or in Diaspora feels to be part of Zambia. Remember that those in Diaspora did not voluntarily leave the country; they were pushed out due to lack of opportunities and lack of employments they were trained for.

Countries with Dual Citizenship

The world has now shrank into a global culture and economy. For this reason many countries are now endorsing dual citizenships. The results are colossal in terms of economic development.

Let us name a few of these countries Austria, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Cyprus, Dominica, Egypt, El Salvador, Finland, France, Ghana, Germany, Grenada, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Jordan, South Korea, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malta, Mexico, Montenegro, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, Serbia, Spain (only in certain cases), South Africa (only in certain cases), Sri Lanka, St. Kitts & Nevis, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Turkey, United Kingdom, USA (only in certain cases), Vietnam and Western Samoa.

[pullquote]Can you associate these countries with consequences due to dual citizenship? Can you see that by having more citizens these countries have lost out on the employment front because the foreigners have taken those jobs?[/pullquote]

Can you associate these countries with consequences due to dual citizenship? Can you see that by having more citizens these countries have lost out on the employment front because the foreigners have taken those jobs?

In my eyes and I believe in yours too, I see development, low poverty rate, collective riches, pure prosperity, technological advances, literate upbringing and above all excellent governance. Dual Citizenship has helped many of the countries in the list to develop far more quickly than they would have done otherwise.

Let us take some examples:

(i) Israel:
Ranked fourth in the world in scientific activity and a major player in high-tech industries. It designs and builds aeroplanes (Astra, Gulfstream, etc.). It develops technologies for agriculture so that high yields can be harvested in the desert sand (while we have failed despite having good soil). All these advancements are due to transfer of technology by its dual citizens working overseas and helping their motherland. As a result thousands of jobs are created by the dual nationals;

(ii) Switzerland:
A country that is topologically similar to Zambia in all respects. It is very technologically advanced, has the highest GDP thanks to its dual nationals which it encourages for a simple reason that dual nationality brings home free technology transfer;

(iii) Ghana:
A country that has realised the economic benefits of dual citizenship through fostering trade and broadening investments opportunities. In the last ten years Ghana has seen its skill and expert population increase tremendously due to dual citizenship.

Ghana’s dual citizens have set up shops in their country by developing roads, housing, building machineries, developing free medical care, utility facilities and many more.

Thanks to the Ghanaian government that has welcomed dual nationals with open arms as they have brought with them free technology transfer and business acumen;

(iv) Turkey:
A country that has seen tremendous economic development since allowing its citizens to have dual citizenship. The Turkish nationals living in Germany make up 5% of Germans.

They have over the years since they were allowed to have dual citizenship brought free technology transfer from Germany to Turkey. This has resulted in the boom of manufacturing goods in Turkey.

Indeed, I have personally noticed this since the tractor I designed for a German company has also ended up being manufactured in Turkey.

The last Zambian government wanted to buy those tractors from Turkey. My question is why buy from Turkey when you can get free of charge the design of that same tractor from me. The other is manufacture of ambulances called in Zambia as mobile hospitals. I designed these for Germany many years ago. Chinese came and copied the mobile hospital which Zambia bought from China. They were so poorly copied that they are unreliable. Why can’t you come to me?

There are more benefits Than Problems

We must now cut the fat and eradicate the myths of dual citizenship. There are more benefits than problems. Dual nationality is truly the way forward to offer recognition to those who are sacrificing their time, knowledge and money to make their motherland prosperous.

Research has shown that good investors are dual citizens and not strangers who sometime come with different agendas to milk as much as they can and leave the natives with no trousers.

[pullquote]Globalization has noticeably changed perceptions on dual citizenship in many countries. Zambians living abroad contribute up to 10 percent of Zambian GDP through transfer of moneys. This is more comparable to what Zambia gets from the mines.[/pullquote]

The schemes used by Israel, Turkey, Switzerland and others that go into partnerships with the dual citizens has yielded real development and jobs. For every dual national there will be a hundred or more jobs created. This is good for Zambia which at the moment needs extra brains that have been exposed to the world.

Endorsing dual citizenship should be viewed in terms of national development and as an economic strategic enhancement formula.

Globalization has noticeably changed perceptions on dual citizenship in many countries. Zambians living abroad contribute up to 10 percent of Zambian GDP through transfer of moneys. This is more comparable to what Zambia gets from the mines.

It is time for Zambia to really embrace dual citizenship and take advantage of the vast talents, qualifications, skills, expertise and experiences of its own unrecognised nationals in Diaspora if true development will come to this sweet motherland.

185 COMMENTS

  1. You couldn’t have said this in a better way. My kids were born in South Africa and have South African citizenship by the fact that they were born in that land. Now we need to promote that in our constitution period. PF should not politicise this issue instead they should listen to those even in opposition who are articulating the merits of dual citizenship.

  2. Excellent writing…it has been a long time since we have had an articulated piece of writing with full content and style that makes understanding easy, ever for the less ‘informed’…
    My hope and trust is that the President sees this article and learns from it, my opinion is that he is against dual citizenship…people like this learned professor need to be given a chance to improve our country…and they are plenty! Again excellent piece of writing…Viva Zed Viva Dual Citizenship…

  3. Indeed the benefits outweigh the costs. Lets go with the popular demand and embrace dual citizenship.

  4. #4 I agree with you , I will also say nothing , lest I steal the Prof’s thunder, great article and I hope the the Acting President Alexander Chikwanda uses this article as one of those great arsenals to convince his relative of the benefits of Dual citizenship

  5. It seriously baffles me that there are people out there who are against dual nationality, when this world has become one small global village. The merits of enshrining this into our constitution clearly outweigh its drawbacks if any. Professor with roots from Mufken, well-articulated piece of writing.

    • @Mwana, what is wrong with the term “dual nationality”? Bwana mukubwa, “dual nationality” means the same thing as “dual citizenship”! Expand your vocaburary before you talk nonsense about others.

  6. Only uneducated can fail to understand what the prof has said. I have always wondered why Zambia with all it’s copper has failed to have people like Clive to design a Zamcar. It has taken high shool students from the USA to design Zambbikes. Now I understand why even the prof can’t design things for Zambia. Me too have children with Wstern citizenship. They are still regarded as Zambians here yet when they go to Zambia, they pay $50 for Zambian visa. Do you think they can be motivated to invest in Zambia when they are regarded as foreigners? As a Zambian with a citizenship from another country, I am not coming to Zambia to seek for a job. Rather, I am bringing in money to start businesses and employ fellow Zambians. I hope the PF with no plan can ask the prof for help.

    • Mashlarro how can we talk i need to have a word with you you let me bro?i have Oz passport and will be going to zed

  7. Ukwa is old. No new ideas in his head and all we can do is wait for him to be voted out or let Nature take its course. We need a young leader who can understand all these concept and move us forward. Africa is the only continent that still has ancient human beings in power.

    • Why can’t we discuss isues without wishing other people died?! What assuranbce do you have that a relatively young person will support the idea of dual citizenship? We have plenty of countries around the world run by younger people but don’t have dual citizenship; so what say you in these cases? Sata is only one person against this idea, but that doesn’t mean the will of the majority can not prevell in this case!!

      Stop this “Mfwiti” (Satanist) mindset—-always thinking in terms of death of others to make any progress!

  8. Sata feels that he is more important than all of us in Zambia. Why should he force what he wants rather than what the people want. We have decided up have dual citizenship and so be it. Only him doesn’t approve. It tells you he is a wrong person on that seat. See how he used to criticise Banda s travelling, is nt he who is all over the world spending ours money now

  9. this sounds good and beneficial than otherwise. Hope many people can see and utilise some of this free advice.

  10. University education is key success of any human being and a Nations.If it were the case then it would be easy to understand why duo citizenship is needed after all Zambia sent these people to go and study and now they are highly trained and we dont need them!Shame on you.Which father or mother would send his or her child overseas for studies and rejects the child when the studies are completed?Only Zambia,i guess!! GOD BLESS ZAMBIA.

    • The only problem brother is that the President is also a university graduate with a BA in political science and corporate law. Much as I love and respect him, I think he did not fully understand the benefits as us Zambians in diaspora have.

  11. All the above comments reflects something, That Zambians suffer from Inferiority complex, just bcoz Its prof. Chirwa in UK then this is excellent. have asked why The USA and SA allows Dual Citizenship only in certain cases? 

    • Bwana Pilato, the Prof “in thye UK” has articulate his point of view in support of dual citizenship very well, what is yours? Rather than being such a “shallow @sshole”, tell us your counter argument!!

    • Can you articulate your counter argument instead of questioning the integrity of a zambian genius! in Prof Chirwa. Don’t be so jealous of a fellow zambian mate.

    • Pilato, well said….The Prof has articulated the benefits but the negatives hav not been included. There is no problem with Zambians abroad having dual citizenship but how about non zambians having a Zambian Citizenship? Believe u me these guys will milk the little we hav and go back to their countries period. If it is happening right now wat do u expect when u grant them citizenship? We have to be careful with this issue because our system is so weak…Lets strengthen the system then think of dual citizenship.

  12. This is a straight forward issue. Zambia is not an island and indeed can not be in these global times. Dual citizenship is about reclaiming the capital and expertise (Zambians) that is otherwise locked in countries that are even more economically advanced. Otherwise, the only political reason for refusing dual citizenship would be the Zimbabwe model of divide and rule forever, now that we are allies (presidentially). Alienate those exposed to how other countries have progressed as they pose a political threat. Talk about fear of the unknown.

  13. this is a well written article, the people of zambia want dual citizenship and if its going to positively affect zambias economic development then i dont see why CNP should reject.

    • at least he has given u an opportunity to debate on it unlike the lawyers(previous government) who deprived u of one.

  14. Ba proffessor thanks for your arguements but why do you want to belong to two countries, one rich the other poor i call that greedy and selfish. Dual citizenship fya bukabolala.

    • You have missed the all point in the Prof’s arguments. How sad! Maybe its the Latin words he has used that have confrused you. But he has defined them perfectly too! Now, should we just conclude you are simply thick-headed??????

  15. You diasporans are cowards.You run away when we needed you most.Now that we indigenous citizens are trying to make it you want to come back.Nooooooooooo.Charles Musonda cannot allow his children to play for mother Zambia.The character does no even appreciate what mother Zambia has done for him.

    • Bwana, Charles Musonda is not stopping his children from featuring for Zambia! Where do you get your news? It is the same stup!d laws that serious Zambians are fighting to change that are stopping Charles Musonda’s kids from playing for their mother country. These kids were born in Belgium (sp) to Zambian parents, hence their Belgian citizenship, and no one can take that away from them. It is up to Zambia to reclaim such young talented people by making things right in terms of laws that make sense. And that is what dual citizenship law will do. My goodness!!!

    • Zambians trying to help their country are now your enemies? You are such an *****. Who wants to come back home to poverty anyway? The only reason is that we love our country and that most of our family members are still living in Zambia and the best we can do to help them and the nation, is via tangible investments. Think twice before you say anything in future.

    • The Ayew brothers of Ghana are in exactly the same position as the Musonda boys. the difference is Ghana allows dual nationality so they can play for Ghana while the Musonda boys cannot as things stand. Don’t blame it on Charles Musonda.

  16. People have spoken we want duel citenship period.There’s no way my child who has obtained a citizenship in a land where he went for studies should be regraded as a foreigner in Zed it doesn’t make any sense.If they squash this it will be their end in governement nerver PF will rule again.

  17. I have never had a stance on this dual citizenship issue but I think the Prof has just won me over. Excellenty debated and articulated.

    • He offered himself when Levy Mwanawasa died, but the greed MMD government then, hounded him so fast and called him all sorts of names including adducing that he was zambian enough since he had spent part of his life in europe.

  18. Let those that have ears hear what the spirit of the people says to them this day, without which they are bound to lose lamentably next time.

  19. Dual Citizen: that is the tool in Ukwa’s hands to use to bring risk free indigenous foreign direct investment in Zambia.
    We did a study on South Africa on labour and learnt that for every skilled worker that leave south Africa, 4 unskilled workers lose theirr jobs. Dual citizenship in Zambia is what can reverse that trend by allowing skilled labour to provide both financial and human capital pour into our poor country. 

  20. But why only three countries in the whole of Africa Egypt, Ghana and partly South Africa? There must be a reason.

  21. Koma inu a Chirwa namwe! Kungodzionongela nthawi kulongosola nkhaniyi kwa Ukwa Chimbwi, ngathi angadzikhadzikise pansi ndi kupedza mupata wowerenga bwino kuthi aphunzireko!

  22. Good article. Sata and PF govt should have a list of

    1) Advantages of Dual-Citizenship, and
    2) Diasdvantages of Dual Citizenship

    Then compare and contrast as they say. that is how educated and developed minds think. While Sata may have reasons to think Dual Citizenship will take away jobs, there are other reasons that dwarf Sata’s argument, like the Professor has explained.

    What we need is a mature discussion, not politrical outbursts from fearful grandpas. They may be not as enlightened as the younger generation.

  23. You last heading says it all….the article as articulated all its pros but not cons…. You should state the problems in depth as you have with advantages….one weakest point of dual citizenship is the economic incompatibility example they that have the money will indeed buy off all your land….. South Africa has put a clause to that effect, no foreigner can acquire land any more….if Zambia with which ever country partners with dual citizenship have equal playing field it will work to both advantage, this is to me the greatest fear people should see. Zambians have a tendency of migrating to better countries why are they not in Rwanda or Ethiopia or Gabon or Sudan but are in SA, US, Britain all capitalist. Mortgages in SA for foreigner is now tied, what does that tell

  24. # 16 ([email protected]) it is people like you who will forever drag Zambia backwards because of ignorance. The issues articulated in the article above are self explanatory. Only illiterates will have difficulties understanding this article. Charles Musonda’s Children will not play for Zambia as long as you Zedians insist on them losing their Belgian citizenry. This is what the professor is saying. Allow them to be part of you and all positive results will show. Why should they lose their citizenship of a country which has brought them to the level they are at just to please ukuichaila? For the first time Zambians should insist on a citizens constitution rather than a Party or Politicians constitution. We are fed up of greediness!

  25. Listen folks. Thousands of Zambians are in diaspora as skilled people like Prof Chirwa, contributing emensely to foreign economies. Zambia needs to attract these back by allowing dual citizenship. This way they will be free to invest in zambia and look at Zambia as home again. They were pushed out by previous govt inability to create jobs. Never underestimate Zambians living in diaspora. They have been exposed to good governance and wealth creation. They have no access to public funds to steal through unretired imprest. They have a different mindset on most issues affecting Zambia. The PF will actually benefit from these professionals if they are allowed to come back and regain their citizenship. Charles Musonda’s kids may not play for Zambia if they are not allowed dual citizenship.

  26. Hope thick uneducated heads can take a leaf from Clive. Well researched article.
    Problem with Sata, ni mposa mabwe, he may not understand all this.
    Mmembe has also been quietened by this old man. He is not the Mmembe I had respect for. 

  27. I find the reasons advanced against dual citizenship quiet simplistic and lacking any sort of reasoning.Foreigners will take over jobs! which jobs? very appalling.

  28. Ba pro Chirwa where do you stay? i guess UK. Now that you are rich, you want to come back, and the uneducated fools are barking you, useless your comments are. We will decide as Zambians on that one when the right time comes, cowards like you shud just shut up your mounths, you dont know shit about Zambia.

  29. Nice picture Iam just wondering what could be going on in HE’s head…something like tamwakateke pa Zambia baiche mpantu muli ma coulored… ha ha ha ha!

  30. Don’t know why some people cannot contribute without insulting or calling the president bad names! Is it their level of thinking or what? Chirwa said a lot of things here and they make a lot of sense without insulting anyone. That is how mature and civilised people behave. I cannot imagine what would happen if these uncivilised beings insulting here were in power! Just thinking!!

  31. Why limit it only to dual-nationality, why not go ‘multiple’? I have in mind at least two other countries in addition to Zambia that I would like to be a citizen of!

  32. Another very good example is Canada which is a more multicultural nation than the US. But then I feel more effort should be made towards addressing the unemployment crisis. Most people were kind of already convinced on this one

  33. I wouldn’t waste my time to write an article like this. First of all, Sata is too dull and illiterate to even be able to read it. Secondly, all those advising him are not interested in Zambia – they are watching money and looting it – they are too busy looting money and creating smoke-screens to even bother about the constitution right now. How can a president who hasn’t created a single job but has lost hundreds of jobs so far through closing companies, claim that foreigners will grab jobs from Zambians. Which jobs are those? There are no jobs in Zambia, we are losing jobs everyday such that even his own job of President is about to be lost if he is not careful. It is a waste of time trying to engage these frogs and hyenas in intelligent discussion. Let us just wait for 2016.

  34. Only broad-minded and educated people will understand what the professor is talking about. For Zambia to progress and catch up with the rest of the world you need a degree holder president. RB was for dual citizenship because apart from being a degree holder he is well exposed internationally.

  35. Where is Prof Chirwa? We need to start campaigning for people like him as soon as possible!My other half has a dual and I am both Zambian and British and no political party in Zambia will ever take this away from me.As for the kids well it is UN lol

  36. Dual citizenship has a lot more positive benefits than not.There are highly educated and very successful business people in the diaspora who could be enticed to contribute for mutual benefit.It is base human emotions that cloud politicians judgement in not making a case for duality.Fear and jealousy of the unknown? 

  37. Lack of a good liberal arts education shows up in a leaders inability to see things clearly it is a shame to leave this important development issue to a not wholly developed common sense.

  38. No Zambia is for Zambians…. clive chirwa should come and contribute to the development if he wants. why should a ka $50 be an issue when you want to be proudly zambian. we in zambia pay alot more tax than $50 to keep this country of ours running. If you run and go abroad you should be proud of those countries…. stick to your home and improve it for others to admire such that they want to come back…. am not P.F or pro Sata but on this one am with SATA… all those making noise are abroad or have relations abroad. stay, work, develop, retire, die and be proud of where you are.

  39. No to dual citizenship because our land will be taken by this foreigners

  40. You foreigners want to buy our land because you cant buy land where you are? if you had a chance to buy land where you are you would not be crying for the dual nonsense.

  41. # 43 NO NAME BRAND – what is this obsession with the Lozi people kansi? What have they done to you? Do you honestly think Lozis will need to have dual citizenship with Zambia if they seceded? What for? All they will do is dig hydro-electric power station in the Zambezi Lyambia plain and all your Kariba and Victoria falls will run dry and you Zambians will start importing all your power from Barotseland. |All your mining activities will grind to a halt. So why would any Lozi want to come to the dark country that Zambia will turn out to be. All you guys are too dull for the Lozis, just accept that — you are too dull, no wonder you are intimidated. Infact what the Lozis will need to do is tighten the border controls with Zambians to stop you illegal migrants from crossing over.

  42. Education is light it opens your eyes to see clearly ,least you stumble….Ignorance is like darkness, you cant see beyond self,its the source of unfounded fear thus dwarfing the bbest potential in you…..Zambia,we can do better,arise dual citizenship is the way to go…..

  43. Zambians should be very careful with dua citizenship.We don’t have enough security in this country.Most people will still money and run away to another country.A poor country to have a dual citizenship means loosing more land and services to foreigners.Russia,USA,SA,Japan and other big countries know the problems of dual citizenship that’s why USA just allows dual Citizen in certain cases.In see more nigerians in zambia ,more senesane,somalians,arabs.Zambia will be a failed state if this happens.our security and ignorance of doing what u don’t know is so common in Zambia.If i were a president i wouldn’t allow such nonsense in Zambia.A person should belong to one area.Just likea wife and a hasband.U can’t save two masters at once.Come on we need to be careful on this one.

    • Why are you afraid of land being in the hands of foreigners? Did you know that more land in the United States is actually owned by more Japanese that even Americans? These are facts, when somebody pays for something, they want a return (pay back) on their investment. 

      As they seek to find a way to make a profit from their investment(s), development takes place, jobs are created, poverty is reduced, social amenities improve, education standards improve and the spiral just keeps on going.

      What you are telling me is that hey, I work in the Zambian Secret Service and you guys are asking me to work harder to protect the country. Don’t be lazy, we all work hard and should you and if dual citizenship gives you sleepless nights because of work load, hire more people, period!!

    • So according to your logic, any national out there can simply walk into the country and demand for Zambian citizenship? Dual citizenship doesn’t mean Zambian borders will be wide open nor that Zambian citizenship will be automatic, it will have to be either on some sort of merit or as Prof Chirwa said Jus Sanguinis or Jus Solis! A good example is Swiss citizenship to foreigners, it is not automatic, you have to prove your worth!!

  44. If UPND had recognised the potential in Bwana Chirwa and afforded him the respect he deserves, Zambia would have been on a better path now.

  45. No to Dual Citizenship, if it is allowed all land will be in the hands of foreigners within 6 months of amending the law.

    Zambia is developing WITHOUT the dual citizenship clause so why push it now? Just make good use of what is there now. Sata may be not explained himself well when he said foreigners would take all jobs, I am more concerned about the land issue than anything else.

    Chief Mumena recently said all land will soon be in the hands of foreigners at the rate they foreigners are buying up most of the land. What more when dual citizenship is allowed? We all know how easy it is to corrupt those guys at passport office to get Zambian passports.

    Let us not rush into this dual citizenship issue. I am in a foreign land too but I do not see the advantages of dual citizenship.

    • So you are happy for land to be given to Chinese than your fellow Zambians abroad? Zambia is the only country that does not seem to appreciate its own people. I got my degree in the UK with distinction. When I went to work in Zambia, I was told I wouldn’t be offered the conditions I asked for because I was not an expatriate!!! It seems Zambians would rather have foreigners succeed than their own people. It seems Zambians do not like their own people succeeding. The arguments against dual nationality seem to be rooted in unfounded jealousy and nothing else. I have had to employ white people to get businesses running in Zambia because my fellow Zambians did not take me serious enough until they had seen a white face. In order to move forward, I had to pretent he was my boss!!

  46. @One Zambia… ur a fool, tell me which country has all its citizens.. not even a single one who has gone to stay abroad: tell me????. I can explain a lot to u but i have just concluded that ur a fool so let me not waste tym.

  47. Every Zambian has a PHD or a PhD or equivalent. Sadly, the PHDs rule the country and vote for the government.

  48. Please give Mr Sata 90 years, Oh, I mean until he is 90 years of age. When dementia sets in, that is when he will begin to speak sense.

  49. In my opinion those who are fighting dual citizenship are myopic. What they are failing to see is that one does not necessarily lose their allegiance just because they are not in their country of origin. In fact, many of those in Zambia have less allegiance to the country than those who live outside of it. This is evident in the fact that one is more readily prepared to rob the country of its resources in support of their political party. What kind of allegiance is this? This is allegiance to the party and not to the country. They would rather see their party at the top at the expense of the country. So, come on do not deprive those who have left the country by branding them as being unpatriotic. Let’s not forget that there are many reasons why some left; one of which could be political.

  50. I find it puzzling that some people still deem those in the diaspora as ‘people who have run away from their country’. What kind of thinking is that? There are hundreds of reasons why people may live in a country other than their own – and nothing necessarily to do with anything negative. The stay may also be either temporary or permanent. Are these ‘objectors’ to dual citizenship suggesting that every country in the world should only have indegenous citizens? What about all the foreigners in Zambia? Are you telling them to go back to their countries? If a Zambian leaves, Zambia, he has run away. If another nationality leaves their country, they are an investor or have a good reason for doing so – what kind of thinking is this?

  51. Those against dual citizen keep on bringing up the issue of someone with dual citizenship to up and go. I fail to understand that those who are not Zambians are holding more land than the Zambians themselves. And making a lot of money who is externalised at the expense of the locals. By the time the Zambian realizes this it will be too late. Instead we are squabbling among ourselves. Shame.

  52. Dual citizenship should be allowed coz there are alot of Barotselanders who have children with Zambians!! LOL!!

  53. But on a serious note folks, this issue needs careful consideration. There are immigration/citizenship as well as economic issues to consider. The latter worries me because Zambia is one country where it is very easy to withdraw/externalise huge sums of money, and if not properly regulated, dual citizenship can run us bankrupt. Does it mean that Zambians with dual nationality will also be allowed to occupy critical positions of leadership/national interest such as President, IG, Service Chiefs, Ministers, Judges, ZRA Commissioners, BOZ Governor, Intelligence operatives, etc?

  54. i cant understand why have dual citizenship. Its only selffish people who want to have it so that when one side is sour they turn to the other side and disown the other.There is no law there is no guarantee that dual citizenship will bring success.why is it difficult to identify your self to one country. May be special circumstances could be given to parents of different nationalities but must never be allowed to take up certain position in public office not some one born to Zambia parents. Its a known fact that you CANNOT have divided royalty and patriotism. global village claims dose not mean one should not have identity.

  55. Israel has a population of 7 million people yet it highest concentration of business start ups listed on the NASDAQ more than Europe, china and India combined.Chip 8088 that brought in the the desktops and laptops was discovered in 1980 by the Israeli researchers.  Israel thrives because it has embraced its population in the diaspora. Knowledge is not cheap, the PF government will lose out if they continue being stubborn.

  56. Two quotes capture it all- “Wealth transforms a strange land into a homeland and poverty transforms native lands into strange lands” and also “a pessimist complains about the wind,an optimist expects it to change,but a realist adjusts his sails” The 1st shows that some form of dual citizenship is always part of life and the 2nd shows the shortsightedness of Sata’s views on dual ciizenship.

  57. THE BIBLE SAYS “MY PEOPLE SHALL PERISH FOR LACK OF WISDOM” SURELY EVEN WHEN PROF.CHIRWA HAS PRESENTED US WITH THIS WELL RESEARCHED PIECE IF INFORMATION THAT WILL HELP US ENACT A GOOD CONSTITUTION,SOME PINHEADS,STILL DONT GET IT.PROFESSORS ARE A BEACON OF KNOWLEDGE WHICH FROM WHICH AS A SOCIETY CAN TAP WISDOM FROM TO HELP US GOVERN OURSELVES.LETS LOOK AT USA,UK JAPAN.CHINA. THE COUNTRIES HAVE DEVELOPED LARGELY BECAUSE THEY HAVE UTILISED THEIR BEST BRAINS TO HELP SHAPE THEIR SOCIETIES.I FEEL SO BAD AND NOT PROUD OF MY COUNTRY FOR NOT RESPECTING THESE INTELLECTUALS LIKE PROF.CLIVE CHIRWA.ITS NOT ONLY A SHAME FOR MY COUNTRY BUT ALSO UNFORTUNATE. WHY SHOULD CLIVE CHIRWA BE RESPECTED IN EUROPE,USA ,etc AND NOT IN ZAMBIA? THAT SHUD TELL US HOW BAD OUR THINKING HAS DONE TO US. LETS WAKE UP!

  58. Chirwa come baack and take over UPND HH will be your vice, just push for a convention, we shall prove to doubting thomasses that UPND is not tribal by voting for you as a president , i remember u are the one that broke the pact by suggesting HH to be vice to sata and they Share 60%Pf and 40%UPND cabinet ministers portfolios but the dunderheads in UPND REFUSED YOUR PROPOSAL walked out of the pact and today they ar CNP, but professor, u are too quite too, these africans they need someone who makes noise to be famous manje ba boss when you disappear , you really disappear 4 good.

  59. Dual citizenship has benefitted countries more than it has disadvataged them. Didier Drogpa is French, Solomon Kalou is Dutch, Patrick Viera is Senegalies and yet they have all played for different countries because those countries have dual citizenship. One of the fastest developing nations is Malasia whose dual citizens are bringing in technology and wealth. What is there to steal from Zambia? If anything it is Zambians abroad who are likely to ‘steal’ technology from their current locations abroad and bring it home.

  60. WE NEED A DUAL CITIZENSHIP.LETS NOT ALLOW THESE POLITICIANS TO HIJACK OUR ASPIRATIONS AND THE PROMISE OF ZAMBIA. LETS NOT ALLOW UKWA AND HIS MINIONS TO USURP OUR DREAMS AS ZAMBIANS.OUR PRESIDENT IS SURROUNDED LARGELY WITH OLD PIPO FROM THE OLD SCHOOL OF THOUGHT WHO REALLY DONT UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES OF GLOBALISATION.EVEN OUR PRESIDENT HE NEEDS SERIOUS ADVISERS LIKE PROF.CHIRWA TO ADVISE HIM ON MATTERS HE DOES NOT UNDERSTAND.ZAMBIANS PLEASE LETS NOT BE FOOLED FOR THE THIRD TIME.CHILUBA HIJACKED OUR FIRST CONTITUTION,THEN SECOND CAME MWANAWASA AND LETS NOT ALLOW UKWA TO DENY US OUR RIGHTS.ABASH IGNORANCE! ABASH XENOPHOBIA.! WHAT ARE THEY AFRAID OF.I DONT CARE IF A WELL EDUCATED FOREIGNER TAKES UP A JOB THAN AN UNEDUCATED PF,MMD,UPND CADRE,WHO MOSTLTY ARE IN OFFICES FOR POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY

  61. I was recently scolded by one of the elders in my family, a retired teacher from the UNIP era. He’s very disappointed with me because I opted not to get back home after completing studies and I’m now rooting for dual citizenship. He accused me of not been proud of my Zambia, and thinking that Zambia is inferior. I couldn’t help but spoil for a fight. I asked him why I should be proud of something I never chose to be, but just found myself being. This set him off. He ranted about the things KK and UNIP had done for us, saying my generation was not worthy of the troubles his had gone through. I told him he was naive to have thought their struggles were for the country and not for just for a few selfish politicians. The man fumed. I just had to stop talking, lest he suffered a stroke.

  62. The article makes sense, it is well written and it is informative and educative. I have been worried about this for a long time. But you know my wife told me that when you are in Zambia they don’t ask for a passport but the registration card. So guys just keep those green registration cards. However, it becomes an intricate issue when travelling, should I get a visa to visit my country or should I just use the Zambian passport which has indefinite leave? Morals in terms of integrity come to play hence Prof is right. We know some security wings are totally against this but their propositions do not convince me. Prof, it was nice having a conversation that day during the awards. I know our  president will listen and do something positive about it, though it all depends on the people.

  63. By the way I could not resist the British Passport having spent 18+ years in the UK. I love my country Zambia but UK is my second home. I was born a Zambian and will die a ZB (Zambian British). Yes!

  64. #66 WANU NGWEE – especially for the now over a million Zambians finishing fish in Barotseland. If they don’t get dual citizenship, they will be delcared illegal immigrants very soon and deported back to Zambia via Kaoma border.

  65. What a powerful article Prof. Clive!!! This is very clear logic, knowledge and sense. Dual Citizenship MUST come to stay!

  66. My mulamu just hit the ball out of the ballpark … Thanks a trillion Prof, you are one of the smart people that make the Zambian Enterprise proud without getting the full benefits. Dual Citizenship is a must if we have to reach the levels of national development required in the shortest possible time.

    We can develop Zambia and make it the shining star it ought to be … you are the best, Mulamu.

  67. now here is things. if our president can reason like this, not necessarily agreeing with clive, it will do this country losts of good

  68. Mr.Chirwa I understand your frustration if the world depended on Africans we would still be in the caves.It is time to wake up build and be men.

  69. Just Marking the proffesore!
    The article has highlighted the benefits why didn’t you enlighten us on the negatives. Like this you sound biased towards dual citizenship maybe because of your situation. In the next edition let us know the other side too.

  70. #56, Why are you afraid of land being in the hands of foreigners? Did you know that more land in the United States is actually owned by more Japanese that even Americans? These are facts, when somebody pays for something, they want a return (pay back) on their investment. 
    As they seek to find a way to make a profit from their investment(s), development takes place, jobs are created, poverty is reduced, social amenities improve, education standards improve and the spiral just keeps on going.
    What you are telling me is that hey, I work in the Zambian Secret Service and you guys are asking me to work harder to protect the country. Don’t be lazy, we all work hard and should you and if dual citizenship gives you sleepless nights because of work load, hire more people, period!!

  71. The only relevant example is that of Ghana as both Zambia & Ghana are in Africa & have siizeable mining industres & are recording mineral resource driven economic growth. Dual citizenship should be be progressive but there ought checks of undesirable immgrants into Zambia. Chaps like senegalese & malians who just specialise in polygamy & deal in stolen emeralds. Chaps like Congolese and Nigerians who will come only to set up Tuntembas & engage street vending (zimbabwe & SA are examples of countries hit by such Nigerian immigrants). I am not sure that Zambian locals are ready for competition from Chinese & indian immigrants in lower income brackets. For this reason any approval of duall citizenship ought to be backed up by strigent rules/laws to mitigate unintended consequences

  72. Asian immigrants to U.S. surpass Hispanics for first time

    Ar a record 18.2 million, or 5.8 percent of the total U.S. population, Asians have surpassed Hispanics as the largest group of new immigrants to the United States, according to a new study from the Pew Research Center.
    The study, called “The Rise of Asian Americans” and released on Tuesday, reveals that Asian-Americans also have the highest income, are the best educated and are the fastest-growing racial group in America.
    About 430,000 Asians—or 36 percent of all new immigrants—arrived in the United States in 2010, according to U.S. census data. About 370,000, or 31 percent, were Hispanic.

  73. This is the kind of material we need for a president. Not these “Chimbwi No Plan” thugs we have right now. 

  74. I am worried about you fellas coming from America taking over tu ntemba. My Kaponya friends will be very dissappointed if they lose thier ntembas. They make a lot of money in that business. I might even lose my popularity and consequently my re election bid 2016.

  75. I think to even unnecessarily comment on this marvelous article, would just do it an injustice for YOU HAVE SAID IT ALL Prof. Bravo and I pray that the President listens to your words of wisdom which he has failed to do coming from most of us Zambians both home and abroad.

  76. Look at the picture. Those children who I am greeting are foreigners. If you allow those children to become Zambians, ninshi if you are a teacher or nurse or policeman your chances are doomed.

  77. We have brilliant minds who are overseas and many of them have resources too. If we won’t get dual citizenship, why a elect a Zambian who will be a good leader. We should try to choose a person who is or has lived overseas or abroad, a person who understands the importance of our country moving forward. A servant like president who will really save the people. When you have lived, gotten an education, worked overseas or broad, really you are exposed to many things. These Zambian leaders who want you to feel that they are in power, is just sickening. We all love our country no matter where we are in the world. All we are hearing is that they are many developments in Zambia, but don’t these leaders know the risky of having 90% of foreign investors, haven’t they had enough lessons?

  78. The idea of seeking investors only among foreigners for the smart people of the Zambian Enterprise is actually myopic because most times the gentlemen in power hardly realize that Zambians in Diaspora are a huge pool of financial resources not only in a co-operative sense but even in individual capacities.

    Take for example my Mulamu (Prof Chirwa), imagine how much ZPA would benefit from his designs by creating a PPP and to use his own words, I quote “… Indeed, I have personally noticed this since the tractor I designed for a German company has also ended up being manufactured in Turkey.

    The last Zambian government wanted to buy those tractors from Turkey. My question is why buy from Turkey when you can get free of charge the design of that same tractor from me.”

    • Why hasn’t the so called Professor Chirwa setup a factory to manufacture his ideas. Has he at anytime tried to do that and was stopped by someone?

    • Should ZPA have contacted Clive or Should Clive have contacted ZPA since he was the one with the idea?
      If Clive was patriotic enough his first contact for his ideas would Zambia.Unfortunately, I don’t see that changing with dual citizenship. Maybe if we make him President like he wanted.

      @ B.R. Mumba, if you were given an option to invest either in Zambia or UAE, which one would you choose? Would your decision be driven by nationality or economic sense? If your answer is economic sense, then i do not see the benefits of dual citizenship. If Nationality would be your drive, then i wish you all the BEST OF LUCK in your Business, because you will need it.  

  79. continued … Prof further disclosed, “… The other is manufacture of ambulances called in Zambia as mobile hospitals. I designed these for Germany many years ago. Chinese came and copied the mobile hospital which Zambia bought from China. They were so poorly copied that they are unreliable. Why can’t you come to me?”

    If ZPA worked with the Prof and started a start-up showing all the market potential from these Zambian designed products (tractor and mobile hospital), and properly marketed to various African Governments, private farmers and hospitals, etc, get pledged orders after building a prototype, a new company traded at LuSE, NYSE and/or LSE would emerge.

    Dual Citizenship would usher more of such and encourage many others, I rest my case.

  80. If they (ZPA) are having problems getting things like that done (creating start-ups with access to financial resources at respected stock exchanges), I can help … right within my area of expertise.

  81. This may be off topic but those children in the picture are Sata’s grand children ie his nieces children born in Germany

  82. @97 BR Mumba Prof Chrirwa doesnt need dual citizenship to avail his tractor design to the Zambia govt (lame thinking). He do it now as a patriotic Zambian. By the do you do any serious productive work. You are all over. GET OFF THE NET AND DO SOME WORK!

    • I work very hard … I actually put in almost 15 hours a day in my businesses and I am working right now as we speak. What do you do? How much are you contributing to the world economy? And if your work done is measured by checking on the net, then how productive are you? On the question of Zambian government accepting Prof Chirwa’s design, what kind of a question is that? What a subjective thought process, how do you expect me to answer that? In case you didn’t know, I don’t run GRZ … I run my companies, so ask them not me … thanks a trillion.

      Microplus Bio-Energy, LLC, God bless!

    • i am impressed with your credentials, thank God we have Zambian  think tanks who are making an impact world wide , God bless you as  you continue fulfilling your God given potential do not be distracted.

  83. Question no. 1 is prof chirwa a ambian or not? 2. How many zambians living in other counties have obtained nationality in the counties they are squating?.
    Lets be real people, there are many Zambians who are illegal immigrants in the host countries they are staying and lives on less than a dollar. They do dirty jobs and claim they are doing well. They owe credit card companies huge amounts and chane names the way one changes pants. Coming back to prof chirwa, did he join UPND as a foreigner? If this prof did really design wolrd class tractors and other goods how come he travels economy class on Kenya airways? Awe mwandi dual citizenship yashupa.

  84. Ba Theoretician, I am always working Google search one of my companies and find out what we do there. Microplus Bio-Energy, LLC. We have offices in the United States, Switzerland and Jordan. I am working even right now. At the end of the day let’s focus on individual contributions to our Gross National Product.

    Enjoy your day and God bless.

    • Just seen your website and I am very impressed! I would like to contact you somehow!

    • use the email address on the “contact us” page on the website … mention you are getting in contact with me and they will forward your email details to me, good luck

  85. Prof Chirwa’s examples are leaking cans,
    Isreal is what it is today due to American backing. Isreal receives huge amouts in grants from America more than any other country in the world today. Switzerland’s econony grow big due to the loot from African dictators and plunderers who stashed their loot in that economy. Switzerland started exposing the plunderers after getting enough dollars in fees to get its economy in forward gear. Ghana’s economic growth is from the new oil fields and not from the proceeds fromits dual nationals. Most Zimbabweans have no dual dual citizenship but they send money home diligently. by the way prof, do you need dual citizenship to send money to your poor uncle in eastern province to mend his bicycle?

  86. PROF, I WAS WONDERING, HOW A CHIRWA COULD BE THAT INTELLIGENT! NOW I KNOW, IT IS THE BEMBA IN YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! KE KE KE KE!

  87. Every opposition to Dual citizenship s spiritual and the battle will be won in prayer and educating the masses because it is for the betterment of Zambians. By faith Dual Citizenship will be enacted.

    • This includes opposition to progressive clauses in the Constitution like running mate, 50+1 vote, this is all  spiritual not wanting Zambia to progress and be a better country, thank God this will be won through prayers and  educating the masses.Jesus already overcame every hindrances to good progress in life on the cross of Calvary, he has already given us everything we need for life and godliness. By faith all progressive clauses in the Zambian Constitution will come to pass, in Jesus  name, amen.

  88. knowledge is not cheap, that why there is a word called “patented information”. With patents, there is no patriotism, the Zambian government must pay its dues – no free lunch.Professor Chirwa should not offer his tractor designs free of charge to the Zambian government, they must either pay or let the diaspora have dual nationality.

  89. Ku ichaila NCP will shocked that there several of us Zambians with dual nationality already . Me what I do is.. When going to Zambia I pick the chi Zambian passport when in uk I just use my british passport  bingo.. No need to worry about CNPs

  90. This article isver poor for an independent because it’s just a pro article. It does not attemptto address the issues that enacting the clause can cause. It assumes whatever those issues are they are not important. That is a huge problem in critical thinking.

  91. Our constitution is said to be a people driven one. For our Leaders to show their ignorance in issues like this is a pity. Oliver, thanks for making it so plain that even the most dullest person can see the importance of dual citizenship. Our leader missed a lot and lucked foresight and advice on this issue. My appeal to the Presidential advisers especially the economic advisers to give the President a good advice. We need a people driven constitution and not a blindly driven one from blind leaders.

  92. That’s how an article should be written. For once 90% of bloggers gave some contructive feedback. Thanks professor.

  93. The President is looking at a bigger picture.There is a need to address problems relating to dual citizenship. I can mention one: It promotes fake marriages

  94. I hate to use the word Professor because it reminds me of college. I hope you don`t get offended if i address you simply as Dr. Chirwa. Anyway Dr. Chirwa, with all due respect, you a proponent of dual Citizenship. I hate to say this again, but your article could have been well rounded if you had incorporated the ‘bottlenecks’ of dual citizenship in your discussion. While i agree with you from an economic point of view, dual citizenship can prove to be a challenge in terms of national security. In addition, it creates a category of second class citizens with less privileges than others. However, looking at the global trends with respect to limited availability of resources worldwide, dual citizenship is the way to go. I rest my case.

  95. @102, Theo..

    Do you really expect a private citizen like Prof Chirwa to force his ideas on a disinterested govt? Successive Zambian administrations have shown very little interest in what Zambian sons and daughters living abroad are capable of contributing to our country. Unlike other govts around the world,our govt have very scanty statistics or research on its own people living abroad. We have always been looked at with suspicion and scorn—and your comment proves it!. The question is; why? For instance, look at Dr. Dambisa Moyo! An intellectual everyone is clamoring to have on their side but, alas, NOT Zambia! Rwanda’s Kagame has already invited her to speak to his Cabinet about world economics, but I have never heard anything of the sort from Zambian politicians—again, WHY?

  96. @111, Analyst: And who told you the Prof set out to write a pro and con article? If you have some cons, the platform is open! You can not just discredit good arguments the basis of your own made up standards as though you are the one who assigned him the “HOMEWORK”.

    Not all arguments/articles have to be pro and con, sir!

  97. Many Zambians niba kachula who don’t even understand dual citizenship. They work as security guards in the night, clean toilets at old peoples homes in the morning and wash dishes in restaurants in the afternoon. In between these chores they pick their phones and start making noise on dual citizenship they least undertand. Here is SA, three families share one two bedroomed flat as tenants and landlord. If you are in doubt, come to Jburg and call a friend and tell him you are in town and need somewhere to sleep.

  98. Guys Zed is a democracy and the preso has a right to express his opinions. he did not say he is going to opposite dual citizenship. All he said is he does not think its a good thing for Zed. what we have to do is convince him that dual citizenship is a good thing for Zed using diplomacy without insulting him. The last thing you want is a powerful man to go on the defensive because it always ends badly.

  99. The article makes interesting reading. what I  have noticed is that people who are anti dual citizenship (ADC), have failed to grasp Prof Chirwa’s illustration of our own local situation of intermarriages. imagine a Lozi marrying a Nsenga with matrilenial culture. The Lozi man would have been required to go and live with his Nsenga wife in her village. tuestion should their children be deprived of a choice of which side to associate with for economic benefits? in my opnion, the children should freely elect which grand parents to settle with without being viewed suspiciously. for those who allude that land shall all go foreigners, my question is which foreigners? the moment one has been granted citizenship then they are zambians! Zambian citizenship 

  100. # 117 Bwendo, what is your problem with dual citizenship. We know that many Zambians in Diaspora are poor. But there are also some like Prof Chirwa who are doing very well. Tell those who need accommodation in Joburg to yell out. I’ll get them good accommodation. So whether Zambians in RSA are poor or not , the issue is that dual citizenship is good for the development of our country. Zambians want dual citizenship not because they want GRZ to give citizenship to the Chinese or Nigerians or Senegalese. Do you know that a foreigner in Japan can have permanent residence and not citizenship? Yet there are many Japanese nationals with dual citizenship around the world.

  101. As much as it hates {F supporters this govt have no plans or the know how of moving this country forward. They argue baselessly to a point that one wonders what motivates them beyond good reasoning and common sense. Doul citizenship is the way to go in every sense of a modern nation. May be Zambia due to poor leadership is still in the 19th centuary. This nation will not develop all because voters believe in entertainment rather than addressing real issues, otherwise how else can the 90days theory or more cash in pockets sell?

  102. The article is rubbish….it has only spoken on what people for dual citizenship want but failed to make and info on cost and bad side of dual citizenship so we make sound judgment and I thought Zambians are learned chaps….. his is an academic man we expect a rational article not this garbage….tell us in detail disadvantages of DC (Dual Citizenship)!!! Atase…. And all those people criticizing people who are not learned are just a disgrace, majority Zambian are not educated so stop insulting them rather explain advantages and disadvantages of DC

  103. #115Yambayamba, Zambia would be a better place if we had people you’re your kind of brain or the brain of those who’re supporting dual citizenship. There will always be the illiterate or nay people like #125 instead of the ye people. Let us press on and the nay people will not stop what the majority and enlightened Zambians want.

  104. We’ve seen the positive side of Dual citizenship…Can someone tell us the negative side so that we can compare…

  105. At Bwendo #120! Whatever we are doing in diaspora is non of your business. If I clean a toilet and get that £7 per hour (K56,000) makes a huge difference for me and my family. I will be able to send money back home in Zambia to my relatives and also build a house. The money they will receive won’t have a tag ‘toilet cleaner’ on it. Moreover, I pay tax and this is the money the UK government gives Zambia through aid. Look at the big picture when analysing issues and don’t be myopic and superficial. What you are doing in SA is non of my business. Prof Chilwa has given his perspective and the majority of us are in agreement. Yes!

  106. Yebo ba Professori!
    Cannot be better articulated.
    Many of us with connections in UK and USA suffer quietly
    as our potential partners / donors move away from our potential businesses 
    for lack of dual citizenship and eye Asian countries.
    Dual citizenship is a foundation for transparency and a slab for accountability as 
    the funders (USA/UK tax-payers) use their systems to keep us in check!
    If we can create jobs for the Zambians, why not?

  107. As has already been articulated,, is it not shameful that GRZ has been able to buy the mobile hospitals when all GRZ could have done is call the prof to the table and ask him to design the same same for our country and also use it to serve other African countries and bring into our nation the much needed forex. The same should have been done with the tractors. Why is it that our leaders don’t think to support fellow Zambians with ideas? We produce copper and our copper is used by many nations like Thailand to built many things out of it like their airports which are full of massive steel yet we don’t even have enough street signs. Dambiso & other like Clive could have been used to speak to most of our dull ministers whose interest is just to steal and enrich themselves.

    • IF CLIVE CHIRWA WAS A PATRIOTIC ZAMBIAN, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN THE FIRST ONE TO OFFER THOSE DESIGNS TO ZAMBIA RATHER THAN TO HIS MASTERS. 

  108. No.110 you are wrong one these kids are GOD give children they are Zambians and not foreigners as you put.This is a prophetic picture I can see one of these kids if not both become the head of state.The children to me are communicating to HE the President a prophetic message may the Lord bless kids and fulfil his promise Amen

  109. Can someone with dual nationality stand for Presidency? The Professor has not tackled the complications if someone decided to run for presidency with dual nationality. We can never be sure of which side he is more aligned to, and this can have serious repercussions for our democracy. Dual nationality with non-extradition countries will be encouraging plunder of our country because the culprits will have safe haven to run to and we cannot anything about it. This issue need to discussed at length and we have to look at all angles of the arguments. The Prof.  highlighted the gains in technology due to dual nationality.

  110. “Zambians living abroad contribute up to 10 percent of Zambian GDP through transfer of moneys.”
    How true is this statement DISTINGUISHED PROF?
    I have the following questions;
    1. Are you saying that people in diaspora are the second largest contributors to GDP (10%), which is would only be surpassed by construction sector that contributes on average around 13% – according to official figures (2001-2009) by GRZ and World Bank?
    2. Would this also mean that the income from diaspora is has a bigger impact on Zambian GDP than Metal Mining (GDP contribution around 8%)?
    OR
    3. Should we take it that “up to 10%” can mean anything between 0 and 10 with a significant bias towards 0 given that moving towards 10 greatly challenges the setup of the Zambian economy?

     PLEASE HELP…. 

  111. @ 133
    I find it interesting that proponents of dual citizenship embrace Dambisa Moyo, the author of DEAD AID. Please read this book were she agues that Aid cannot bring development. 
    The money you send to your relatives back home is AID and not investment and therefore is unlikely to contribute to the economic development of our beloved Zambia.

  112. It seems to me Prof Chirwa designed his tractor and ambulance for the old communist Germany, I say this because he says ‘many years ago’ and the fact that one of his designs was copied by the Chinese. Also East Germany had close technical and economic ties with Zambia which included training Zambian secret police agents by the dreaded German Stasi. Every seeming positive point has it’s dark underbelly. To get back to the point though, I agree with him that dual nationality has important merits, more importantly we shouldn’t have nation states anyway, they’re a big barrier to human development, that’s why most of us are boxed in by a concept relatively new in modern history until a better model of social engineering comes along.

  113. I think people need to start telling their own stories, anonymously of course. When people talk abstractly about issues, its easy to argue and blame others, but when you get to know someone and hear where they are coming from, people unite.

    If you took-up citizenship elsewhere, why did you do it? If you could get dual citizenship, how would it change your life? Would you buy land? Would you start a business? Where would you live?

    If you live in Zambia and are a Zambian citizen. What jobs do you or your friends have that you think would be taken? How would it affect your life?

  114. Am an Angolan who was married a Zambian lady with 7 children, and I donot know will happen to my children. I have no problem here in Angola because Angola allows tripple nationalities. My main worry is there in Zambia. Please think wise3ly and save the present and future generations.

  115. It is dissapointing that Zambians don’t learn & forget easily. Dual citizenship is being promoted the same way PRIVATISATION was being championed in the early 90s. People were told that privatisation was a miracle cure for Zambia’s economy (by politicians & paper “intellectuals” until they started to lose jobs by the thousands. The privatisation “magic wand” suddenly turned into a devil’s sickle for workers in UBZ, ZRL, INDECO, QZ, MANSA BATTERIES KAPIRI GLASS, LENCO, MONRACH, LIMA BANK ETC. Yes Dual citizenship has its advantages , however, it is a double edged sword. It is bound to have similar results as privatisation with an elite minorty beneffiting and the majority poor being overwhelmed by competition from outside

  116. LT is carrying a story of a Chinese owned shop being ransacked in Katete. Such problems will be exacerbated with Dual citizenship. With dual citizenship such chinese traders after a few years or months or after an arranged fake marriage with a local Zambian woman will claim citizenship in huge numbers? Read the Theory of Unintended Consequences of Purposeful Action.

  117. A lot of Zambians are in the Diaspora today as direct consequence of the liberalization & privatization. Lost jobs back home. Lucky because they had an education & skills. But what about the likes of the unskilled traders or lowly skilled in Katete (who are the majority all over Zed) How will they withstand Chinese, indian, Nigerian, Congolese completion. DUAL CITIZENSHIP NEEDS TO BE THOUGHT THROUGH VERY CAREFULLY AND STRIGENT CHECKS PUT IN PLACE IF IT IS TO BE IMPLEMENTED WITHOUT UPHEAVALS LIKE THESE. Harness DC like a electricity (it can burn/kill if handled carelessly) do embrace it like gospel otherwise Result will be, Xenophobia and rebellion.

  118. I must add that countries that had successful privatisations are those that resulted with citizens of those countries owning large stakes in the former state enterprises. Examples are Russia, Kazhakstan. Today the former state enterprise now owned by citizens are TNC’s. We cannot say say the same about Zambia. Although the Transformation in South Africa was not privatsation but the end of Apartheid. Affirmative Action has seen emergence of a black capital class and a middle class albeit mostly for the politically connected.Food for thought and a starting point as we think about opening competition to citizens whose only/possesion/qualification is a green NRC

    • very fair and brilliant analysis… we seem not to learn and do not want to consider contextual differences when adopting ideas from other countries. it’s shame to think that because Switzerland has benefited from dual citizenship  economically, the same will accrue to Zambia.

  119. I would like emperical evidence that dual citizenship lead to prosperity of an economy. The repatriattion of earning is what goes to build an economy not mere dual citizenship. its cheap thinking that all people in the diaspora are more intellgent that those in Zambia. if anytinhig most are economic refugees who can make a living locally doing funny jobs outside, toilet cleaner,waiter, DJ and so forth. secondly most people just want to have the whole cake as dual citizen makes you choose where to align oneself depending on circumstances. its just illogical. Dual citizens would be idel for contryies with a lot of historic immigrants with treaceable roots.

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