MBABANE:Prince Mhlabuhlangene,the Chairman of the Elections and Boundaries Commission(EBC)says Swazis with dual citizenship can participate in elections and be voted into Parliament.
Speaking to this Swaziland News on Monday evening after this publication exposed Mhlume Member of Parliament(MP)Victor Malambe’s questionable South African passport,the EBC Chairman who is a lawyer by profession said in terms of international law,a person with dual citizenship cannot be deprived political rights.
“As long as it is dual citizenship, the person by law is a citizen with full citizenship legal entitlements,including political right entitlement.This position is fortified under International law disallowing statelesness.Under this principle forbidding statelesness,the civil liberty protection guaranteed,is that no person is supposed to be without a territory where he/she would be entitled to practice their fundamental human right of self determination,under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,”he said.
The Elections Commission Chairman said standing for elections or voting were political rights of all citizens including dual citizenship unless the Government concerned imposed limitations in acknowledgment of the person having full rights in the other country of citizenship.
“Standing for elections or voting are political rights of all citizens,including dual citizenship,unless one of the Governments concerned has granted a limitation in acknowledgement of the person having the full rights in the other country of citizenship,”said the Elections Commission Chairman.
Elections Commission Chairman Prince Mhlabuhlangene.