BRITISH CITIZENS IN ZIMBABWE: NATIONALITY (Hansard, 4 June 1985)

§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Young)

They are being advised that the Zimbabwean legislation abolishes dual citizenship with effect from 1st December 1985. Similar restrictions on the possession of another nationality are contained in the laws of many countries, including a number in the Commonwealth. It is for each individual who holds both British and Zimbabwean citizenship to decide what course to adopt.

I understand that, under Zimbabwean law and regulations, dual citizens who wish to opt for mono-Zimbabwean citizenship must sign a declaration to that effect in the Zimbabwean Registrar General's Department. If they have a British passport, they are obliged to submit it to the Zimbabwean authorities, who will subsequently return it to the British High Commission. Dual British-Zimbabwean citizens who do not take this action will, in Zimbabwean law, become mono-British citizens on 1st December 1985.

Under the British Nationality Act 1981, British citizenship can be lost only by those who voluntarily renounce it and whose declaration of renunciation is registered at the Home Office in accordance with the British Nationality Act 1981. A person who renounces British citizenship in order to retain or acquire some other citizenship or nationality is entitled to reacquire it by registration, but this provision may be taken advantage of only once. International practice precludes British consular protection being afforded to dual British-Zimbabwean citizens in Zimbabwe, and this will of course continue to be the case for those who opt for Zimbabwean citizenship. Persons who renounce their British citizenship will be ineligible for British consular protection in any country.