Statelessness in Southern Africa Table 5: Right to acquire citizenship as an adult by naturalisation or registration/declaration104 Res. period Language / cultural Character Ren. Other Relevant legal Country requirements other provisions (date of latest amendment in parentheses) Angola 10 yrs Civic and moral guarantees of integration into Angolan society No crime against state or ordinary crime of more than 8 years in prison Means of subsistence; Nat.Ass. can grant in case of ‘relevant services to the state’ L2005Arts13&17 Botswana 11 yrs (10+1) Sufficient knowledge of Setswana or any language spoken by any “tribal community” in Botswana Good character No qualifications needed if “distinguished service” to Botswana; language requirement may be waived in “special circumstances” L1998(2004)Arts 12-14 5 yrs for spouse Lesotho 5 yrs Adequate knowledge of Sesotho or English Good character Yes Financially solvent, no mental incapacity L1971Art10-12 Malawi 7 yrs Knowledge indigenous language or English Good character, “suitable citizen” Yes Financially solvent L1966Art21 C: 10 yrs C: Knowledge of Portuguese or a Mozambican language C: Civic probity Means of subsistence; residence and language can be waived if the person has provided “relevant services” to the state C2004Art.27 Moz. L: 5 yrs L: integrated into Moz society L: excluded if member of colonial-fascist political organisations, officials/inform ers of foreign political police/sentenc ed by courts for crimes against Mozambican people or against decolonization ; no convictions against state security Namibia 10 yrs Adequate knowledge of the responsibilities and privileges of Namibian citizenship Good character; no convictions in Namibia Yes South Africa 5 yrs Communicate in one of 11 official languages; adequate knowledge of the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship Good character Yes if no dual nat. Swaziland 5 yrs Adequate knowledge siSwati or English; separate procedure for those sponsored by a chief Good character 104 L1975(1987)Art. 11 C1990(2010)Art 4(5) L1990Art5 Must first acquire permanent residence, which usually takes 5 years, unless special skills or a spouse. L1995(2010)Art5 Adequate means of support; has contributed to the development of Swaziland; immediate if investment C2005Art45 L1992Art9 Most countries require the person to be habitually resident and to intend to remain so if they wish to naturalise; this provision is not included here. 23