Kelly Kapianga (LCK Chambers)
recognising additional categories of citizenship such as by adoption. The most recent changes
in the citizenship regime entailed an introduction of the right to dual citizenship.
Unlike some African countries, Zambian citizenship has not been tied any ethnicity or
tribal affiliations. An issue which permeated Zambia’s citizenship laws was the gender
discrimination which prevented females from transmitting an entitlement to citizenship to
their spouses. This was rectified under the 2016 Constitution. Another recurring issue is the
conditions under which a person must be resident in Zambia to be entitled to be registered for
citizenship by virtue of residence for 10 years. Some laws have suggested that the residence
must not be under the authority of a residence permit while others suggest the contrary. The
current law provides the latter. Although this requirement is not the subject of any
discussions in Zambia, its potential impact on preventing people resident in Zambia as
refugees is likely to arise in future.
Future changes are likely to result in the increase in the minimum period for marriage
to a Zambian from 5 years to 10 years to entitle a spouse to apply for Zambian citizenship
and the addition of a requirement that in order for a child to be entitled to citizenship by
adoption, they must not be related to the adopting parent.
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RSCAS/GLOBALCIT-CR 2020/14- © 2020 Author(s)