CITIZENSHIP OF ZIMBABWE ACT
(a)
been deprived of his citizenship by order in terms of
section eleven or twelve; or
(b) ceased to be a citizen in terms of section nine or
thirteen;
may apply to the Minister in the prescribed form and manner
for the restoration of his citizenship of Zimbabwe:
Provided that a person who was deprived of his citizenship
in terms of section twelve shall apply in terms of this section
within twelve months after the date on which he attains the
age of eighteen years.
(2) The Minister may, subject to such conditions as he
may fix in each case, restore citizenship of Zimbabwe to a
person who has applied to him in terms of subsection (1):
Provided that—
(i) such person shall not become a citizen of
Zimbabwe until he has taken the oath of loyalty
before a person specified by the Minister;
(ii) the Minister shall not restore citizenship of
Zimbabwe to any person who is also a citizen of
a foreign country, except with the consent of the
President.
(3) A person whose citizenship has been restored in terms
of this section shall become a citizen of Zimbabwe by
registration on the date he takes the oath of loyalty in terms
of proviso (i) to subsection (2).
dice to any evidence that he was a citizen of Zimbabwe at an
earlier date.
19 Minister may extend periods
(1) Subject to section thirteen, the Minister may extend
any period specified in this Act within which any act may be
or is required to be done, whether before or after the period
has expired.
(2) Where the Minister has extended a period in terms of
subsection (1), any consequence which ensued or would
have ensued, as the case may be, at the expiry of the unextended period shall be deemed not to have ensued or shall
not ensue, as the case may be, until the expiry of the extended period.
17 Honorary citizens
(1) Where, in the opinion of the President, a person has
done signal honour or rendered distinguished service to
Zimbabwe, the President may grant him honorary citizenship
of Zimbabwe.
(2) A person to whom honorary citizenship is granted in
terms of subsection (1) shall become an honorary citizen of
Zimbabwe on such date as the President may fix.
(3) The grant of honorary citizenship shall not—
(a) render the honorary citizen liable to military service or
any other obligation of a citizen of Zimbabwe; or
(b) entitle the honorary citizen to be registered as a voter;
or
(c) entitle any spouse, child or other relation of the
honorary citizen to become a citizen of Zimbabwe.
20 Evidence
(1) An authority, certificate, notice or document, other
than an order made in terms of section eleven, which in
terms of this Act may be granted, issued or given by the
Minister shall be good and effectual if signed by the Registrar-General or by an officer of the Public Service authorized
by the Registrar-General to sign such an authority, certificate, notice or document and, when so signed, shall for all
purposes be prima facie proof that it was granted, issued or
given in accordance with this Act.
(2) A document purporting to be an entry in a register
made in terms of this Act or a former citizenship law shall—
(a) be received in evidence on its production by any
person and be prima facie proof of the matter specified in the entry; and
(b) be deemed, unless the contrary is proved, to have been
made by or on behalf of the person by whom or on
whose behalf it purports to have been made.
(3) A document purporting to be a notice, certificate,
order, authority, declaration or subscription of an oath of
loyalty or allegiance given, granted, issued or made in terms
of this Act or a former citizenship law shall—
(a) be received in evidence on its production by any
person; and
(b) be deemed, unless the contrary is proved, to have been
given, granted, issued or made by or on behalf of the
person by whom or on whose behalf it purports to
have been given, granted, issued or made.
(4) For the purposes of determining, in any proceedings
before a court or otherwise, whether or not a person has
ceased to he a citizen of Zimbabwe the fact that the person—
(a) possesses or has at any time possessed a valid
passport or other travel document issued by the government of a foreign country; or
(b) exercises or has at any time exercised any right or
privilege accorded exclusively to citizens of a foreign
country; or
(c) without the written authority of the Minister, is
serving in or has at any time served in the armed forces of a foreign country;
shall be prima facie proof that the person is or at that time
was, as the case may be, a citizen of the foreign country.
18 Certificates of citizenship in certain cases
(1) The Minister may, in such cases as he thinks fit, grant
a certificate of citizenship to any citizen of Zimbabwe or to
any person with respect to whose citizenship a doubt exists.
(2) A certificate granted to a person in terms of subsection
(1) shall, unless it is proved that it was obtained by means of
fraud, false representation or the concealment of a material
fact, be conclusive proof that the person was a citizen of
Zimbabwe on the date of the certificate, but without preju-
21 Offences and penalties
(1) Any person who, for the purpose of procuring anything to be done or not to be done in terms of this Act, makes
a statement which he knows to be false in a material particular or does not know or believe to be true shall, without
prejudice to any other proceedings that may be taken against
him, be guilty of an offence.
(2) Any person who is not a citizen of Zimbabwe and
who, without the written permission of the Minister, makes
PART V
GENERAL
15 Citizenship of women not affected by marriage
A married woman shall, subject to this Act and Chapter II
of the Constitution, be capable of acquiring, losing, divesting
herself of and being deprived of, citizenship of Zimbabwe in
all respects as if she were an unmarried woman of full age.
16 Minister not required to give reasons for
decisions
The Minister shall not be required to give reasons for his
refusal to grant or approve any application made in terms of
this Act.
Reissue July 2001
[Chapter 4:01]