Speed up Malawi dual citizenship – UDF’s Patel
United Democratic Front (UDF) member of parliament for Mangochi South has called on government to “speed up” the process of coming up with the legislation to allow dual citizenship.
Patel, a former foreign affairs minister during the Bakili Muluzi tenure, said in parliament that government should work tirelessly in speeding up the Dual Citizenship Act.
“This is so because Malawians in diaspora are failing to own properties because they are not allowed to have dual citizenship,” said Patel.
“ Whilst we are allowing foreign investors who are not citizens of Malawi to own land for investment then let us also think about our brothers and sisters who are in foreign countries. When you look at countries around us, you will find that they are allowed to have dual citizenship,” Patel added.
She expressed delight that President Peter Mutharika has called for the legislation to be drafted.
“ Let us speed up the dual citizenship issue because we want our fellow Malawians out there to participate in the development of this country,” stressed Patel.
Mutharika said on state broadcaster MBC that the ministry of justice was currently amending the legislation that would allow Malawians to hold dual citizenship, fulfilling a promise made that he would address the matter.
“We are currently drafting the legislation. Very soon we will have the legislation. This will be possible because we want Malawians in diaspora to come to Malawi,” he said.
And in parliament, minister of justice Samuel Tembenu said his ministry is working on issues to do with dual nationality.
“We are looking at the comparative law and we should be able to finish work on that one and come up with legislation that addresses that aspect,” Tembenu said.
Mutharika’s administration is looking at ways to save a crumbling economy .
In April, religious groupings under the country’s Public Affairs Committee (PAC) called for Mutharika’s resignation.
The PAC demanded that the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) “swallow its pride” and accept the fact that Malawi was drowning in its own problems.
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