The Association of Zambian Catholic Clergy (AZACC) President, Fr Cletus Mwiila, has observed that there is nothing wrong for Zambians to have a dual citizenship because the country is living in an open society.
Fr Mwiila told ZANIS in an interview in Sinazongwe that it is not the first for the country to have the dual citizenship clause enshrined in the constitution.
He said there are some children being born in other countries from Zambian parents and it will be fair to allow them to have dual citizenship.
The AZACC president also disclosed that the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation is empty and does not mean anything because there are other people who belong to other religions in the country.
Fr Mwila pointed out that the declaration of Zambian as a Christian nation means that the country should be governed under the Christian principles however the current constitution allows the death sentence which is against the Christian teachings.
He said there is need for a quality debate on the constitution to ensure that Zambians come up with a constitution which will not make them regret.
The AZACC president said what the Zambians will say over having a Vice President as a Presidential running mate is what should be followed other than following the ideas of a few individuals who may be against it.
Last week the committee for the draft constitution extended the period for making submissions to 50 more days.
ZANIS
dual citzenship is okey the more numbers we have the higher the demand and the higher the tax we collect look USA or England thats why they are rich and you want to be cheated by someone
Please Catholic Church speak with one voice, and do try to avoid missing facts with personal feelings like is the case of Fr Bwalya and Mpundu, even when going against Sata’s view point.
It is amazing that the issue of dual citizenship is dragging on in the press and our president is against it. Are the people who are against dual citizenship aware that there is provision in our constitution which allows foreigners to become Zambian cititizens? What Mr Sata is doing is simply to deny Zambians in the diaspora aquiring other citizenships without losing their motherland’s citizenship. The issue of jobs in Zambia does not arise as there are no jobs anyway. Naturization laws allow non-Zambians to become Zambians period. Once a citizen of Zambia you are a citizen like anyone else. The President should simply state his case that he WILL NOT allow dual citizenship.
I think you need to be clear that one can only qualify as a Zambian citizen by naturalisation if they denounce the citizenship of whatever country. That and dual nationality has a distinction. Their are also other ways of acquiring legitimate status in a foreign country without necessarily acquiring citizenship. Indefinite leave to remain in the UK entitles you to everything that a citizen is entitled to (even to assistance in another country in certain circumstances) If you are in favour of this, can you please share what will be the benefit of Zambian in the UK and those in Zambia.Â
well said.
I am afraid I have to put it on record that I am ardently against this Dual Citizenship propaganda and despite the number of articles published and accompanying blogs, not one soul has articulated the real benefits for such a momentus move.Â
@suspended Judge
Britain is rich because it conquered a 3rd of the world and amassed fortunes by what we can arguably call daylight robbery and not because they allow dual citizenship. In any event, you have no jobs, housing or indeed adequate facilities to take on an influx of other nationalities. They will take your jobs no doubt. As for some Pakistani’s with British Passports, they are the very same people who have bombed the UK – their homeland. What is that? You do not need this to develop yourself or contribute to developing your country
Catholic priests are well educated and traveled so they understand these things.
YES THE PRESIDEBT IS RIGHT NOT TO ALLOW DUAL CITIZENSHIP BECAUSE BY ALLOWING WE SHALL HAVE LOT OF FOREIGNERS ON OUR DOORSTEPS WITH IN DAYS. THE ZAMBIANS WHO LEFT ZAMBIA FOR USA ,UK AND MANY PARTS OF EUROPE ARE THEMSELVES TO BE BLAMED ,THEY CHOSE TO MIGRATE OVERSEAS WER GREEDY INDIVIDUALS WHO WANTED TO EARN USD,UK POUNDS AND THE EUROS AND NOBODY HAD FORCED THEM TO GIVE UP THEIR ZAMBIAN NATIONALITIES HENCE THEY SHOULD STOP MOANING .ZAMBIA IS FOR ZAMBIANS WHO LOVES THEIR MOTHERLAND AND NOT OPPORTUNIST FOREIGNERS.NO NO NO DUAL CITIZENSHIP.TWAKANA IZO,YAYI
I think you are being shallow minded. Please read #3
I AM SURPRISED THAT SUCH A SHALLOW MINDED PERSON # 5 MALIKOPO YOU ARE WRITING FROM ABROAD. MOST LIKELY YOU ARE ATTENDING A PF FUNDED CONFERENCE. I HAVE KIDS THAT WERE BORN IN THE USA AND BOTH ME AND MY WIFE ARE ZAMBIANS. HONESTLY BY THE FACT THEY ARE BORN IN AN AMERICAN HOSPITAL DOES THAT MAKE THEM AMERICAN? JUST COZ THEY WERE BORN AN AMERICAN CLINIC? TO ME THEY ARE NOT AMERICANS THERE ARE ZAMBIAN BUT THEY CAN ENJOY ALL THE PRIVILEGES OF AMERICANS EVEN BECOMING A PRESIDENT BUT THEY ARE ZAMBIAN AND ARE ENTITLED TO A ZAMBIAN CITIZENSHIP.
#5 you pratt just keep your gob shut with your diarrhoea nonsense mambala iwe
NONSENSE…GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY, YOU WOULD HAVE LEFT TOO.:)>-
pion ba father
#5 Malikopo – why dont you leave England and go to Zambia as soon as possible?
I bet chi Malikopo does not even have the new zambian passport tha’t why he can’t go nowhere chil illegal
Yes, some Zambians chose to live in the diaspora but what people need to realise is that these same zambians have brilliant ideas and access to capital to help develop our country. Restrictions on their travel documents does not encourage them to travel. It is a catch 22; one would say it is okay for Zambians living abroad to get dual nationality, but what about individuals of other nationalities living in Zambia? This is something that needs looking at objectively. We all want what is good for our country.
Logika,
Unless you are an illegal immigrant who and why would anyone restrict you from travelling to Zambia or whatever country of origin? If you have changed your nationality and now subjected to visa requirements to enter Zambia then perhaps ask yourself if it was worth it in the beginning? If it was, then use the business visa route and if you invest (the capital) you refer to, then you will get multi-entry visa if not indefinite stay.
That’s why need some form of degree qualification for a president
Maybe I am stupid but I don’t understand these Catholics. Just look at Archbishop telephone and Father Bwalya….can you be comfortable with such rascals reigning supreme in that church?
You Father Cletus Mwila, who told you that the teachings of Christianity or the Bible are against Death Sentence for those who call it upon themselves?
Which Bible do you read? If your major is sociology, don’t venture into matters of doctrine and theology.
You spoke well about the dual citizenship clause, but off key on the other matter.
There he go again child molester in the name of father Mwila he does not even have children! Why father Mwila is against the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation is because the Roman Catholic including their pope in Vatican city have been covering up there sins of child abuse
& financial misdeed in their companies!
There he go again child molester in the name of father Mwila he does not even have children! Why father Mwila is against the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation is because the Roman Catholic including their pope in Vatican city have been covering up there sins of child abuse, corruption & financial misdeed in their companies!
?5 ?MALIKOPO. Who told you that Foreigners will take jobs from Zambians when the dual citizenship is allowed? Right now under the nose of SATA & PF & your nose, foreigners in the name of fake investors Chinese & Indians have taken away Zambian jobs not only in formal sector but even in the informal like selling chickens at the markets! Shame on your ignorance! Nigeria has developed from its diaspora because of the dual citizenship which makes it easier for Citizenship of this country to have a connection thru the dual citizenship! Don’t fall in Sata’s fear of unknown, Sata is still living on the 1960s where people used to have fear of unknown! Zimbabwe where Sata has a close friend in the name of Mugabe has dual citizenship and Mugabe has managed to hold on!
Will you people stop yapping nonsense about countries being successful because of dual nationality! One empty tin above boldly suggested that the UK and USA are “rich” because they allow dual nationality. You are also suggesting that Nigeria has developed from it’s diaspora because of dual nationality! What nonsense is that? What facts are their to support your claim. The question here is very simple, what forces an individual to denounce their initial nationality? Children born in the diaspora have a choice when they are of age (18) to either remain a national of their parents home country or that of the country of their birth, which they are entitled to anyway. It remains a selfish call for those that want to stick on the fence with no real sense of loyalty.
?5 ?MALIKOPO. Who told you that Foreigners will take jobs from Zambians when the dual citizenship is allowed? Right now under the nose of SATA & PF & your nose, foreigners in the name of fake investors Chinese & Indians have taken away Zambian jobs not only in formal sector but even in the informal like selling chickens at the markets! Shame on your ignorance! Nigeria has developed from its diaspora because of the dual citizenship which makes it easier for Citizenship of this country to have a connection thru the dual citizenship! Don’t fall in Sata’s fear of unknown, Sata is still living on the 1960s where people used to have fear of unknown! Zimbabwe where Sata has a close friend in the name of Mugabe has dual citizenship and Mugabe has managed to hold on!
5 Iwe  malikopo , you must just be an illegal immigrant , ya Ali ichobe apaÂ
5i meant to say tapali ichobe apa
Jobs will be lost by foreigners like the judge who was just appointed by the presido from Malawi mwalaba shani?
The resistance against Dual Citizenship is spiritual and the  battle will only be won on the knees in prayer, educating  Zambians concerning the benefits to the country because it will improve their lives, lobbying, sensitizing the masses etc. By faith it will come to pass same applies with 50+1 vote, running mate VP etc. in terms of Zambia being a Christian nation the priest needs to know that God will fight the battle on behalf of righteous christian Zambians and the priest’s resistance is in vain, he will give an account of his actions to God.
Stupid thinking Malikopo
On dual citizenship, he has a good point but on Christian nation, he wants a secular nation or a catholic nation.
I guess Fr. Mwiila was speaking for himself in his personal capacity, and not on behalf of the Zambian Catholic priests. There has never been a time when the AZACC body has debated this issue and collectively taken a position on it to endorse “dual nationality”. As would be expected, the press may have elasticized what he said. I hope so!
Countries that are still debating issues like these are backward.
Wow, this article is fastidious, my younger sister is analyzing these things, therefore I am going to let know her.
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