Dual Citizenship Briefing: The Bestowal Process

How to Regain Your Zambian Citizenship

"My write up of the event, my version for your consumption"

Click on the image to watch the video 

On 28^th July 2018, The Zambian High Commission welcomed an audience of UK residents mainly but not limited to regional leads at Zambia House 2 Palace Gate, London Kensington.

The gathering aimed to hear first-hand from the High Commission the process of regaining citizenship for those who are no longer deemed Zambian citizens after acquiring UK citizenship. It was the first meeting of its kind following the amendment of the constitution in 2016, which allows Zambians to hold more than one citizenship/nationality commonly known as dual nationality.

The meeting was organised by the London Association of Zambians UK in partnership with other associations from around the UK such as the Leeds Zambian Association and The Zambian Professional Network. Attendees included interested members including myself, and some people came from as far as Scotland.

The day started with a Networking session where different professionals and organisational representatives had the opportunity to take the podium and share with others about their work and their philanthropic endeavours.  (You will view my address in the linked video) I must state that there were other speakers in the house too.

The principal business of the day commenced with the singing of the National Anthem and the official address and opening of the business meeting by His Excellency Muyeba S. Chikonde the Head of Mission at the Zambian High Commission in the UK, who took office in 2015.  He urged all Zambians in the UK to register with the Mission and to come together and work towards a body of representatives from various regions of the UK who would serve and the main leading bodies to represent the views of the Zambians in the UK.

After this address the First Secretary – Immigration Ms. Alice Shanshima took to the podium. She read the relevant clause of the new constitution and took questions from the floor. Here is the video address of the Ms. Shanshima’s address.

I was unable to record the question and answer session due to the preservation of confidentiality as it was a privilege for the people in the room. However, I can share the main points as I remember them.

Bestowal Process for a Person who Lost their Citizenship by Obtaining Citizenship of Another Country.

To regain citizenship, they will need to go through a bestowal process which is as follows:

1. Make applications through the mission in your country of residence.
2. Complete the application form with a copy of previous Zambian passport or National Registration Card (NRC) plus police clearance the submit to your mission. The fee for this first part is K300
3. The Mission will send the application to the approving body in Zambia. This body sits four times a year.
4. Upon approval (in Zambia, the Mission will notify the applicant who will then be required to pay K5000 (or GBP equivalent). The applicant then has to complete the oath of allegiance. The mission will then send the oath (document), and the K5000 back to Zambia for further approval.
5. After this final approval, the person is now bestowed as a Zambian and can apply for a new NRC and after that a passport.

Points to Note

6. Your old passport unless you have one from 2016 after the change of constitution is not valid if you have citizenship of another country.
7. Your old NRC is not a valid document if point one applies.
8. In addition to the fees above note that you can only obtain your new NRC in person in Zambia, so you will need to travel.
9. You children who are over sixteen who require an NRC need to go to Zambia to obtain this in person.
10. If you are still a Zambian Citizen, i.e., you are on indefinite leave to remain or equivalent, you can go ahead and obtain your citizenship in your country of residence without losing your Zambian citizenship.
11. The names on both passports need to match, e.g., for women, you cannot have your maiden name on your Zambian passport and your married name on the British passport.

There were many other questions that we covered it is difficult for me to me to write them all down. If you have any questions, contact me directly, and I will try to get you some answers or pass on the questions to the High Commission or organisers. At the end of the meeting, we were served a proper Zambian feast.

I will leave you with the extract from the Constitution as it sits on the Zambian High Commission Website. I have also attached the link there for you to make yourself acquainted with the Constitution if you haven’t already done so.

Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) [No. 2 of 2016 13

PART IV CITIZENSHIP

33. A person who was a citizen of Zambia, immediately before the commencement of this Constitution, shall continue to be a citizen of Zambia and shall retain the same citizenship category from the date the citizenship was
34. Citizenship may be acquired by birth, descent, registration or adoption in accordance with this
35. (1) A person born in Zambia is a citizen by birth if, at the date of that person’s birth, at least one parent of that person is or was a
    • A child found in Zambia who is, or appears to be, of not more than eight years of age and whose nationality and parents are not known, shall be presumed to be a citizen by
    • For the purposes of this Part, a person born aboard—
      • a registered ship or aircraft of a country, shall be deemed to have been born in the country of registration of the ship or aircraft; or
      • an unregistered ship or aircraft of a country, shall be deemed to have been born in that country.

36. A person born outside Zambia is a citizen by descent if, at the date of that person’s birth, at least one parent of that person is or was a citizen by birth or
37. (1) Subject to clause (2), a person is entitled to apply to the Citizenship Board of Zambia to be registered as a citizen if that person has attained the age of eighteen years and—
    • was born in Zambia and has been ordinarily resident in Zambia for a period of at least five years;
    • was born outside Zambia, has or had an ancestor who is, or was, a citizen and has been ordinarily resident in Zambia for a period of at least five years; or

has been ordinarily resident in Zambia for a continuous

 (2) Notwithstanding clause (1), a person who is, or was married to a citizen, for a period of at least five years, is entitled to apply to the Citizenship Board of Zambia, to be registered as a citizen, as prescribed.

38. A child who is not a citizen and who is adopted by a citizen shall be a citizen on the date of the
39. (1) A citizen shall not lose citizenship by acquiring the citizenship of another

(2) A citizen who ceased to be a citizen, before the commencement of this Constitution as a result of acquiring the citizenship of another country, shall be entitled to apply, as prescribed, to the Citizenship Board of Zambia, for citizenship and the Citizenship Board of Zambia shall bestow citizenship on that person.

40. (1) A citizen—
    • may renounce citizenship as prescribed; or
    • shall be deprived of citizenship if that citizenship was acquired by means of fraud, false representation or concealment of a material

(2) The process and procedures to be followed by the Citizenship Board of Zambia when granting or depriving a person of citizenship shall be prescribed.

41. (1) There is established the Citizenship Board of

(2) The composition, appointment and tenure of office of members of, and procedures to be followed by, the Citizenship Board of Zambia shall be prescribed.

42. A citizen is entitled to—
    • the rights, privileges and benefits of citizenship as provided in this Constitution or as prescribed; and
    • a document of identification issued by the State to
43. (1) A citizen shall —
    • be patriotic to Zambia and promote its development and good image;
    • pay taxes and duties lawfully due and owing to the State;
    • protect and conserve the environment and utilise natural resources in a sustainable manner;
    • maintain a clean and healthy environment;
    • provide national, defence and military service when called upon by the State; and
    • co-operate with law enforcement agencies for the maintenance and enforcement of law and

• A citizen shall endeavour to—
  • acquire basic understanding of this Constitution and promote its ideals and objectives;
  • register and vote, if eligible, in national and local government elections and referenda;
  • develop one’s abilities to the greatest possible extent through acquisition of knowledge, continuous learning and the development of skills;
  • foster national unity and live in harmony with others; and
  • understand and enhance Zambia’s place in the international

44. A reference in this Part to the citizenship of the parent of a person at the time of the birth of that person shall, in relation to a person born after the death of that person’s parent, be construed as a reference to the citizenship of the parent at the time of the parent’s

http://zambiahc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Constitution-of-Zambia-Amendment-2016-Act-No-2-1.pdf

http://zambiahc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Zambia-Citizenship-Act-No.-33-2016.pdf

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