I have been living in the diaspora for more than ten years and I come to Zambia pretty often. I am amazed at how exciting each trip to Zambia is, from the moment I pack my weekend bag, on the train to the airport, through airport security, on the plane and the childlike anticipation I feel as I look out the plane windows as the plane lands at Kenneth Kaunda International. It is not so much the promise of great home cooked food nor the never ending drama stories from friends and family that gets me. It is knowing that I am coming home, yes, after all this is where my other home is. I have two homes, one in Zambia and the other in South Africa and to be honest I can’t really chose one over the other. They are both very special to me for different reasons, but those reasons are not what my discussion is about.
It is about the much talked about constitutional proposal on dual citizenship. I have listened to various, sometimes schizophrenic arguments for and against this in Zambia. I will argue for dual citizenship to be included in the final constitution because many arguments against are precipitated by fear and a narrow conception of what dual citizenship entails. Calling for dual citizenship should not be an indictment of a person’s patriotism but should instead be viewed through the lenses of the practical realities of living in a globalised world.
Dual citizenship has not caused a crisis where it is allowed. In fact in 2005, the Migration Policy Institute, an independent American think tank found that almost half of the world’s countries allow dual nationality in some form. This number is still growing. In Africa, countries such as Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Ghana and South Africa among others allow or are in the process of allowing dual nationality. The rationale for this has been well captured in a statement made by Ghana’s minister of the interior when a new Act to provide for dual citizenship was promulgated in that country in 2002.
He said: “The legislation is a tribute to the great support Ghana has received from her citizens who have been living beyond her shores over the years. This support has been in the areas of economic, technical, social and infrastructural development. Nonresident Ghanaians’ contribution of 400 million dollars can’t be treated lightly and so the importance Ghana attaches to nonresident Ghanaians can’t be overemphasized.”
I have no idea how much Zambians in the Diaspora are contributing to the national economy but with our extended family structure not completely disintegrated, there are many Zambians paying for various projects to support family members back home. In addition, there are many more setting up investments and thus contributing to the local economy. Denying these people a chance to have a foot in two countries is oppressive as there are various reasons people live and work outside of their birth countries. As a forward thinking country, Zambia should be thinking of how to attract citizens to bring investment back to Zambia and be part of a growing middle class that is already contributing to development in the country.
In a growing economy such as Zambia’s, the idea of free enterprise and democracy has renewed meaning. Zambia’s middle class is still fledgling and the development of a strong middle class is essential to a democracy. There are thousands of Zambians living all over the globe and every year, perhaps, thousands of children are born in the Diaspora and without sounding condescending, these children, with their multiple experiences, some of them in highly developed economies and democracies will more often than not have a broader world view as well as a good grip on social-political engagement. This can only be good for a country especially when one thinks of meeting the challenges we face in this century.
As a country, it would be folly to ignore the plethora of skills and expertise in Zambians living in the diaspora. This is not to say all Zambians in the Diaspora have exceptional skills, but there is a significant number of them who do. Many of them have a strong emotional affinity to Zambia and are genuinely interested in the affairs of their country. This is why many continue to or are prepared to offer voluntary expertise in their various fields of work. As such, political or national loyalty reasons that have been used to reject participation in national affairs are absurd in the face of benefits.
Presently, there cannot be an overabundance of development projects in Zambia and the clever countries are those that maximize their investment opportunities and increase their rates of return on them. Development in telecommunications, education systems, health care, water systems, road networks, etc, would benefit greatly, in a situation where the most of the best brains in those areas are engaged both in and outside Zambia. This is good economic and political strategy.
Why do people assume multiple nationalities?
This is an interesting question, but as with everything else, there are different reasons why people have more than one nationality. I won’t go into the nobility or lack thereof of such decisions because those are value laden. But I will address the practical necessities.
While people feel an attachment to Zambia, there are socio-economic imperatives that make it easier for some to live beyond Zambia’s borders. For example work and the benefits attaching to it such as education and health, may be a huge motivating factor for people to stay and take advantage of those systems in their acquired countries. Often, in order to access these benefits, migrant workers may have to acquire citizenship and it is hard to renounce the citizenship in the acquired country because of the benefits attaching to belonging.
Living in a new country also increases the possibility of more children being born into multinational families. Their heritage cannot be defined by associations only to a single parent, or where both parents are Zambians, only to the country of their birth. They should have the freedom to exercise their mixed heritage. This is enriching both socially, politically and culturally.
Zambia has come a long way and as each era goes by, we see the many strides we have made towards political maturity. Dual citizenship among others, would enhance a higher level of this maturity and rather than frown up on it, we should embrace it.
