Basotho face deportation from SA
MASERU — Thousands of Lesotho nationals who hold South African identity documents (IDs) risk being kicked out of South Africa if they don’t renounce their Lesotho citizenship within the next few months.
Those who are in Lesotho but hold South African IDs will also have to decide which citizenship they want to retain or they will
automatically lose their South African IDs.
This is because South Africa’s Citizens Amendment Act of 2010 outlaws dual citizenship for people who come from countries that prohibit dual citizenship.
Lesotho is one such country.
Many thousands of Basotho have continued to hold citizenship of both Lesotho and South Africa in direct contravention of section 41 of Lesotho’s constitution.
Many Basotho have acquired South African IDs in order to easily secure jobs in that country.
The South African Citizens Amendment Act of 2010 was endorsed by President Jacob Zuma’s cabinet in October 2010 but only became effective on January 1, 2013.
Although it will affect people from many other countries its impact will be mostly felt by Basotho who have settled permanently in South Africa by acquiring IDs in that country.
“In terms of dual citizenship, the act ensures that foreign nationals who want to acquire South African citizenship must renounce their original citizenship before the South African citizenship can be conferred upon them,” reads part of the Act.
“This is in situations where the country of origin does not permit dual citizenship.”
Section 41 of the Lesotho constitution states that any person who upon the age of twenty-one years “is a citizen of Lesotho and is also a citizen of some country other than Lesotho shall cease to be a citizen of Lesotho”.
“An individual ceases to be a citizen of Lesotho unless he has renounced his citizenship of that other country, taken an oath of allegiance,” the section says.
“In the case of a person who is a citizen of Lesotho by descent, he should have made and registered such declaration of his intention concerning residence as may be prescribed by parliament.”
The constitution further states that if a citizen of Lesotho, having attained the age of twenty-one years and acquires citizenship of some other country by voluntary act rather than marriage “shall cease to be a Mosotho”.
This paper understands South Africa’s home affairs department informed Lesotho’s home affairs ministry of the planned changes in a meeting held in December last year.
Sources privy to the details of that meeting told the Lesotho Times that the South African government told the Lesotho officials that they will start implementing the new law in April this year.
Home Affairs Minister Joang Molapo admitted that his ministry was briefed of South Africa’s plans.
He was however quick to point out that this was in “an informal meeting and not government to government”.
“Because it was communicated casually, we wrote a letter to the South African government seeking a straight answer and we await a response. It’s clear South Africa has its own plans,” Molapo said.
Molapo told the Lesotho Times that while waiting for a response from South Africa, the Lesotho government is not going to allow Basotho to be expelled from South Africa.
He said the government was already considering options to deal with the looming crisis “for the benefit of Basotho”.
“What we’re not going to do is sit around and do nothing because we’ll be risking Basotho losing their jobs,” Molapo said.
“If we do nothing, it’s a dangerous situation for Basotho.”
Asked if the coalition government was prepared to repeal the dual citizenship clause in the constitution, Molapo said they would “do anything within reason to help Basotho”. “Repealing the dual citizenship clause is one of the options on the table. We’ll do everything within reason to help Basotho so that they don’t lose their jobs,” Molapo said.
Molapo said shying away from amending the constitution was not an option.
“We cannot say we cannot do anything about it simply because it is in the constitution. It’s probably an outdated law which served a purpose at the time it was made,” Molapo said.
Molapo added that manifestos of the three political parties driving the coalition government, the All Basotho Convention (ABC), Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) and the Basotho National Party (BNP) “all address the dual citizenship issue”.
“The BNP, ABC and LCD all have a similar political understanding regarding dual citizenship,” Molapo said.
Comment by Shishaba Gi Poyo on 17 January 2013:
This implication has far reaching implications. It needs quick and fast action, and I think Minister Molapo is the right person to deal. Letona la ‘Muso o fetileng ‘moho le Tona Kholo ea teng ba ne ba tlo ingoaea ho fihlela ba sitoa ho nka qeto. Amend constitution.period
Comment by Sanki on 17 January 2013:
Ha ha ha! Oatla oa nqabola shishaba Gi Poyo. Oa nhopotsa Mr Lehohlo Raboroko. Onatla nna otsele fela ho fihlela basotho ba lelekoa afrika boroa.
Comment by Sampo on 17 January 2013:
How does Lesotho benefit if citizens are denied dual citizenship? Anyone?
Comment by Alexis on 17 January 2013:
This matter requires a much serious approach than the suggested amendmend of the constitution. The truth is that for most people this is the easy route because most people benefitted from this ceiminal activity including the current Minister of Home Affairs, Mr Joang Molapo. In the first place, it is not going to be easy for new applicants for citizenship into South Africa as due processes will still be followed to grant citizenship to Basotho wanting to benefit from the amendment. This ill serve only those who already have dual citizenship. Secondly, Lesotho’s position is unique in that it is surrouded by one powerful neighbour. With our poor systems South Africans can easily come to acquire citizenship in Lesotho and ultimately benefit fully from our resources while they throttle the process of Basotho getting SA citizenship. We should instead look at ways of using international coneventions to liberate our country from being a puppet of another country. I bet that if this happens, the next stage will be a total take over of Lesotho by SA. Unskilled BAsotho are denied citizenship in SA, only those who are skilled and have money like Joang Molapo were granted citizenship in SA. The rest of us are not going to benefit from this! Afterall, most people who have SA citizenship acquired it fraudulently. The next step by SA is to exaamine their documents to establish how they were granted the status in the first place. Think before you leap! E BONA MAHE HA E BONE LERABA.
Comment by mzini on 17 January 2013:
Sampo this is not being done to benefit basotho so ua question is puzzling
Comment by Ntata'o on 17 January 2013:
“he Lesotho government is not going to allow Basotho to be expelled from South Africa”. KISS my ass!
They are not going to be expelled Mr. Molapo, they are simply going to renounce their lesotho citizenship. It’s as simple as that.
Comment by Tumelo on 17 January 2013:
Amend the constitution!!!
Comment by LEKHOARA on 17 January 2013:
The answer is simple/obvious, ‘muso oa chakalaka what have you been waiting for? hakere taba ee haesale le re hlolia ka eona before May 26 election, le sekebe la meneka joalo ka ‘muso oa Mosisili on this issue…
Comment by Qacha on 17 January 2013:
Our prayers will soon be answered. Currently, Basotho whether born in SA or Lesotho are over 9 millions, mind you, all of them have their roots in Lesotho and owe their allegiance to Letsie 3. To me dual citizenship is the ONLY answer to our economic problems. Right now 40 % of 1.8 million already have SA IDs so automatically they will denounce their Lesotho citizenship if the issue of dual citizenship is thrown away. Look what happened to the late Thokoana in Cape Town on Monday. Please mr Joang Molapo speed up the process of dual citizenship for us. ABC, LCD and BNP as gov. is already for that.
Comment by Selai on 17 January 2013:
Thokoana ke mang ho etsahetse ka eena on Monday?
Comment by shh on 17 January 2013:
Simple put, squash them (Basotho), Suffocate their economy, Collect their resources (Diamonds & Water) and let Zulus eradicate this headless nation like Boers did. They (SA) are terrorising Basotho knowing that the authorities will choose dual citizenship that will ONLY BENEFIT White South African and the ELITE..Watch the space
Comment by princess on 17 January 2013:
Thokoana ke mang? what happened to him/her??
Comment by Sandile on 17 January 2013:
Alexis you are spot on! once they change the constituion business guys from South Africa operating here as foreigners will quickly apply for citizenship and take every business oportunity available here. Others will follow suit and soon the rich will swallow these country and the poor will remain servents forever.
Comment by Born to kill on 17 January 2013:
Those Basotho working and residing in RSA must renounce their Lesotho citizenship. They have gone there for their own benefit. Why should it affect all Basotho? If you decided to work for a foreign country, you have to lose your everything back home because you are not interested to work for your birth country. As I have seen, Coalition government is going to make a lot of mistakes by always taking abrupt decision on issues concerning South Africa and Basotho living and working in that country. Really I think some of the decisions taken by Coalition government do compromise the peace and security of the country and Basotho still remaining in Lesotho, they are putting Basotho and the country at risk, just with the purpose of satisfying those people who don’t like their country of birth.
They left Lesotho because they said they don’t want to earn peanuts, but on the other side, they want the same Lesotho to help them obtaining dual citizenship of their country that they don’t like. So, they must stay in that country they adore and support with their brains as they had been educated by poor Basotho’s taxes, but immediately after completing their studies they abandon their country saying its poor they can’t work for it. So, I don’t support the idea to repeal that clause of dual citizenship at all Mr Minister Home Affairs Lesotho. Basotho working in RSA must renounce their original citizenship, they are not working for Lesotho, they are working for a foreign country which benefits out of them, Lesotho doesn’t benefit at all from that Basotho especially educated people. It seems Lesotho government always focused on people working in foreign countries and they just don’t care about Basotho still working for this country, Basotho who wanted their country to benefit out of their educational skills. When will you think of increasing and improving the salaries and working conditions of the Basotho working in Lesotho rather than just focusing on Basotho that have abandoned their country saying its poor they can’t work for it? Don’t you government ever think that Basotho who are willing to work for Lesotho deserve anything better rather than just always thinking of Basotho who are not interested to work for Lesotho at all? Those Basotho working in RSA always criticise everything in their country, but they forget they are where they are now because of this poor Lesotho and its citizens’ taxes. Please give it a thought.
Please our government, try to balance things, they abandon Basotho working in Lesotho for Basotho not interested to work for their country. Where are Basotho doctors now? Basotho are suffering and dying in hospitals, but Lesotho government has used millions of Maloti to train Basotho doctors who have rejected and left Lesotho to work for RSA, because they said they don’t want to work for Lesotho earning pittances. Where are the engineers? Gone, because they don’t want to work for their country but funny thing, these people want Lesotho government to help them get citizenship of these two countries. What a stupid thinking. I don’t support that idea of dual citizenship, they have chosen where they want to belong. So, why do they still want to be in possession of Lesotho documents that they hate? Only fool can think like that!!!
Comment by leoto on 17 January 2013:
alexis it is good to shout when you know you can be annonymous but one simple fact you do not know is joang molapo’s mother is south african, born in bloemfontein and please stop lying to the people. the constitution has to be amended period
Comment by Letona on 17 January 2013:
I guess this is now when and where we need the wisdom of the legends…King Moshoeshoe I, we need that wisdom!
Allowing dual citizenship has far more dull and deeper repercussions than meet the eye…
Comment by Born to kill on 17 January 2013:
@Sandile,
You are correct. Basotho sometimes think stupidly. Our parliament should not compromise our lives because on the side of Lesotho and Basotho working and staying in Lesotho, we are going to be at risks as foreign nationals operating businesses in Lesotho especially South Africans and other nationals will benefit more than Basotho do, as they will also apply for that rubbish so-called DUAL CITIZENSHIP.
Basotho living in Lesotho are going to get poorer than ever. I advise and appeal to our Lesotho Parliament not to ammend that law because it will put more than one million of Basotho still remaining in Lesotho at risk of getting poorer while foreigners will become richer as that law will be on their advantage. Our Parliament must not do abrupt decision at all just for the benefit of very few Basotho working and residing in South Africa. Basotho working and residing in South Africa are just less than fifty thousand. So, just imagine if Government would take that risk of compromising the future of Basotho living in their country. To hell with DUAL CITIZENSHIP.
Comment by Tlhase on 17 January 2013:
I do not it is right to choose, “Where people should work” or try to limit their rights simply to punish them because they decided to seek opportunities elsewhere. ‘Na ke bona ma-graduates a senang mosebetsi hona Leostho mona! Le eona pittance e kholoang ba sa e fumane. It is logical therefore that Lesotho cannot possibly absorb into its worksforce every Mosotho who was educated with Basotho money! In fact, they are more of a liability to Lesotho, sitting with no jobs and on social grants. At least if they are working in SA or any other country, they bring something home to contribute. I don’t even think it’s fair to accuse them of being disloyal to their home country either. As a matter of fact, Basotho I’ve interacted with who work and live in other counties are very passionate about Lesotho. It’s a free globalised world. We’re not applying Sharia law here! If I want to work in USA, become a US citizen, so be it! Nothing wrong with that at all – regardless of which country trained me. In fact the whole US economy was built from former citizens (skilled migrants and later naturalized US citizens) of other countries. Let’s give Lesotho the same opportunity! I think the problem here is this obsession Basotho have with SA???
Comment by morena on 17 January 2013:
Lona banna naha ena ke ea rona marena tsamaeang le denounce pasa ea Lesotho re tla bona ka mora 20yrs frestate as lost terytery e tla khutlisoa ke ke lona, ho tla sala tsamaiso feela e hlakisang tsoalo ea mosotho le bojalefa. ha ele dual citzen eona che.
Comment by Lefefooane on 17 January 2013:
DC will stupidly block an ammendment that allows for dual citizenship “simply to soetsa” ABC. But the narrow minded DCs will only realize after blocking such an amendment that its leader mccd has a South african ID. Mccd will be the first one to decide if he is South african or Sotho.
Comment by Tlhase on 17 January 2013:
I think our Gov’t will act in a sensible manner on this issue as the Minister has intimated! Those who want citizenship of another country shall go and get it without losing their Lesotho citizenship and those who do not not want dual citizenship shall happily remain only Lesotho citizens!
Comment by oamokhele on 17 January 2013:
Ena taba e ea tena hoba motho ha u hahile u le Mosotho u tla shoa u le mosotho. Homa le batho ba bang ba lakatsang eka Lesotho e ka ba karolo ea SA e leng pale. Ke mang borarong bo ba coalition ea ka tsitsinyang taba ea hore Lesotho le ke le be indepedent ka hore le taboleloe ka Natala ka mona moo ho senang development le ke le ts’oare leoatle le se ke la potapotoa ke naha e ngoe tje.
Machaba ona a se a ke keng a atameloa ho hlahisa taba e babusi ba rona. Le khethetsoe ho tla sebebtsa taba tse ka reng eo ho fapana le ena eo batho ba e etsang ka boikhohomosi fela ba ho hloea naha eo ba tsoaletsoeng ho eona. Re batleleng port taba tsa rona li fihle ho rona li sa thetsoe ke mang kapa mang.
Comment by Lefefooane on 17 January 2013:
Amend the chapter IV of Lesotho constitution and the Lesotho citizenship act of 1971. This should be done urgently.
Comment by ke bua nonsonso on 17 January 2013:
E be Zulu le le re batlang?bonyane Shaka o na bobisoe ka masiba a limpshe.ok on a serious note now,i think there is nothing carrying any weight on the Amendment.It is just an implementary tool for countries already prohibiting dual citizenship.in essence it says “Lesotho ha u batle batho ba hao ha ba na le citizenship ea ka le ea hao,joale e re ke u thuse hore your selfish intents li phethahale.”The solution is quite simple,amendment of our constitution as i dont see any more prejudice that could be suffered by Lesotho as people already have dual citizenships contrary to the provisions of the Constitution.why should one be confined to a single citizenship anyway?Patriotism?what?
Comment by Tlhase on 17 January 2013:
Spot on nonsonso, Live where you want to live, Ke lefats’e la Molimo lena! If you want monogamy then be married to one woman. If you want Polygamy ka molao oa Lerotholi, Basali ba hao ba lumela, you are free to do it. Personally I am against anything that limits people’s freedoms – livelihood, residence, citizenship, religion, loyalty, etc as long as one is not doing crime or destroying other’s lives. Hase phoso hore ebe re tsoetsoe re le Basotho ba Lesotho. Ke thato ea Ramaseli! Ka hona ha kea tlameha ho qobelloa ho khetha ha ke kha moroho kae-kae machabeng mme ke batla menyetla e itseng ka citizenship ea mono. Ke tla lula ke le Mosotho oa Lesotho finish and klaar!
Comment by Ntja Mokoena on 17 January 2013:
Bohle ba shallow minded ba reng Lesotho ha le na mesebetsi, South Africa eo ea bona e na le mesebetsi eona? Ma-South Africa a 55 million na a sebetsa kaofela naheng eo ea habo bona? Na barutehi ba South Africa kaofela ba tsoang universitying baa sebetsa kaofela hoa bona? Che, le tauoe likelellong Basotho, le liphoqophoqo tse fetang tse lutlang leqenqe. Leha hoka etsahala hore molao oo o fete Lesotho moo, le ntse le tlilo thatafalloa, ANC govt e kebe ea lefa li-ID tsa bona le khale, le tlanne le sale le sebetsa Lesotho mona tlasa melao ea Lesotho.
Basotho bohle ba fumaneng ID tsa South Africa fraudulently ba tlo taboleloa li-ID tseno, ba tlilo khutlela Lesotho mona hobane li tlilo ba katlatsa ha ho etsoa scan litokomane. Paramente e phelang hantle ka hloohong e keke ea foutela molao o tauoeng ono oa dual citizenship, e tlilo baka mathata a fetang ao Lesotho le seng le ntse le ena le ona. Haeba e molemo dual eo, ekabe e entsoe ke linaha tsohle tsa lefats’e. Dual ke ntho’e entsoeng ke linaha tsa makhooa tse khorang, ‘me ba ne ba e etsetsa ho tla nyafa matlotlo a Africa joalokaha ba entse during 19th century moo makhooa a ileng a hapa linaha tsa batho Africa mona ka eona dual citizenship eo, ‘me haba qeta ba khutlela habo bona ba tabola tokomane tseo tsa Africa, li ile litaemane, likhauta, le lirashoang tse ngata tsa Africa. Joale ba ratang RSA haba ee kateng, ba re siee hona mona.
Comment by Lerato on 17 January 2013:
@shh
We have to kneel down and pray for our country and government to throw away that shallow mind of risking our lives and country. We don’t want dual citizenship at all, as it has many disadvantages. Joang wants that bullet called dual citizenship to be in existence just because he was working in Pretoria during previous government rule, and he wants this bad clause to be amended just for his own benefit.
ANC zulus and xhosas had decided to instruct Lesotho in the past years to change Highlands water agreement to benefit RSA only but not Lesotho citizens, and now unfortunately LESOTHO’S Home Affairs minister wants dual citizenship law to be amended in our country for the benefit of his friends working in RSA, the law that will compromise the lives of ordinary Basotho in Lesotho. We will keep on praying day and night for that law not to be amended as Basotho living in Lesotho are going to get poorer than ever before. South Africa is now getting Lesotho’s highlands water just for free. Just imagine that wicked RSA is paying Lesotho a change of M35 million per month for that water. Water is valuable, you can’t live without water but that bully country is getting our water just for free, only because of our Authorities who always make decisions that are not benefiting the nation that has voted them on power. It is so sad indeed. ANC government is already terrorizing Lesotho and Basotho just like the Boers did, and immediately if stupid Lesotho could allow amending that law of dual citizenship, they will continue terrorizing Basotho.
Coalition government must not try to revenge against former Mosisili government by passing laws that will put Basotho living in Lesotho at risk. Dual citizenship will not be for the benefit of Basotho living in Lesotho, we don’t want it. Those working in South Africa must cancel their original citizenship and adopt what they wanted. They chose to live in RSA, and Coalition government must not make us suffer back home just because of people who ignored their country. Criminals are killing innocent people here but Coalition government just ignored to ammend the law of charges and bail, they just want to jump to that stupid thinking of dual citizenship law that will not benefit Basotho and Lesotho at all. Try to think strategically.
@Alexis, u bua ‘nete eo lihole tsena tsa Lesotho lisa e boneng. Haba tlilo fumana citizenship ea RSA joalokaha ba nahana ka likelello tsa bona tse fokolang. Basotho ke liphoqo-phoqo tse phoqehileng ka ho fetisisa lefats’eng. Ba ikutloa ba le proud ea South Africa ea ma-ANC a hloileng Lesotho le Basotho hakale? Basotho bana ba hona joale ekare ekile eaba likaffir tsa maburu joaloka batho ba bats’o ba South Africa, ho latela kamoo ba nahanelang maotong kateng ka likelello tse ts’oanang le tsa likhoho. Hare e batle dual citizenship naheng ena. Joang a seke a re hatella ka bonashenale ba hae boo eleng khale bo ntatae ba bo etsa pusong ea bona ea manasi ea khatello e mpe.
Comment by Mahlanya on 17 January 2013:
Bo ntate rona basotho re bolaoa ke ho tseba haholo. U guys voted for the ruling government, dont jump to conclusions but rather wait for the gov. to deal with this.
Yes re kene sekolo ka chelete tsa taxes and its not like they were paid by you only or ur relatives, le rona bo ntata rona ba patetse. We just cant stay in lesotho re lapa. How many graduates are jobless now? and each an every year people are graduating. Then just think of the rate of unemployment in the next 3 or 4 years.
And suprisingly we give praise where its not due. If the gov is entitled to do wateva it does, then why praise them for their responsibilities.
Its the responsibility of lesotho to educate its youth, not for the benefit of the country but for each an evry individual.
And the south african law states that if you have been in that country legally for 5 years then u qualify for permanent residence. Secondly if you worked in south africa for 5 years using work permit then you are also entitled to permanent residence.
Comment by Fahlolla on 17 January 2013:
The Benefits of Dual Citizenship
By Michele Wucker. Edited by Emily Schwartz Greco, February 17, 2006
A tempest in a teapot has been brewing over the more than 150 nations—a number that is rising—that allow their citizens to hold passports of more than one country. Opponents of dual citizenship argue that it is dangerous for America because it can lead to conflicting dual loyalties.
This overblown fear is based on two misconceptions: first, that immigrants’ efforts to improve their homelands represent misplaced loyalties that are bad for the United States, and second, that immigrants’ ties to their countries of birth are something new.
In reality, dual citizenship benefits America by helping to promote U.S. ideals and values around the globe. It promotes U.S. understanding of and connections to the world, to our own benefit politically and economically, and removes practical obstacles to naturalization.
Loyalty to another government certainly can be dangerous, especially in times of war. During World War II, some U.S. states were within their rights to ban meetings of the German-American Bund, a political group that portrayed itself as an American arm of Hitler’s Third Reich and promoted ethnic hatred. Yet this was the exception that proves the rule. In reality, citizens of hostile foreign governments are far more likely to oppose than to support the despots who rule their homelands. Throughout history—with the exception of the Iron Curtain nations during the Cold War—governments generally have been thrilled when their opponents flee into exile. Because those who leave a land are most likely to be displeased with its existing government, until recently the fiercest opponents of dual citizenship and absentee voting have been unpopular ruling governments that feared the paper votes of citizens who already voted with their feet.
Emigrés often have other reasons for wanting to vote in their homelands that have nothing to do with emotion but everything to do with practical issues—especially if they have left behind family they care about and want to visit and support financially. In many countries, you must be a citizen to own land, work legally, or participate materially in certain kinds of business.
Jesús Galvis, a Hackensack, New Jersey City Councilman, ran for a newly created seat in Colombia’s Senate in 1988, because he felt that it was important that Colombians abroad to have a say in policies that affected them, like the excessive time and cost for renewing passports and delays in getting packages through customs. (He never expected to win, but if he had would have had to give up his U.S. citizenship, like other dual citizens elected or appointed to national office.)
Extending America
Two times over the past year, thousands of Iraqis traveled hundreds of miles to polling stations set up across America so that they could vote in their homeland for the first time, showing that U.S. troops had not died in vain. Theirs were the voices of those who have been exposed first-hand to American ideals and the workings, however imperfect, of the nation that still sends out a beacon of freedom and hope.
This should not be the least bit alarming. Did we worry when Americans donated massively to tsunami relief? Is it wrong for immigrants in America to want to create a better future for those still in their homelands, even though it’s okay for the U.S. government to send troops in name of the same purpose? It’s a lot cheaper to promote democracy through the ballot box and the phone call or package sent home from America than by using planes and tanks.
The Benefits
Throughout history, U.S. immigrants’ involvement has long been essential to economic and political progress in their homelands. These ties also benefit the United States by creating connections that promote American goods and political leadership abroad. In an increasingly interconnected world, it is in America’s best interests that newly minted and native born citizens alike be knowledgeable about and involved in the world.
Political loyalty is far different from nostalgia and the desire to make things better in the land of one’s birth, two emotions that we should not discourage. There is clear historical precedent that affection for—and even service to—to one’s homeland is not incompatible with being American. Born a Frenchman, Héctor St. John de Crèvecouer established a new life as a farmer in America, where he posed and answered more eloquently than has anyone else since: “What, then, is the American, this new man?” His love of America was unquestioned, yet he gave up his American citizenship to serve as French consul in New York in 1783, a year after the publication of his classic account. Even after he returned to France permanently in 1785, he was known above all as an ambassador of American ideals.
Dual citizenship does not weaken U.S. loyalty; to the contrary, it strengthens immigrants’ feeling that they are welcome by reassuring them that they will not be punished for loving their homeland any more than a child should be spanked for loving his or her mother. What kind of country would want to make citizens out of those who do not care about the fate of the land of their birth?
The old saw that a man should no more have two countries than two wives is based on a false metaphor. The better comparison is between two different kinds of loyalties, to parent and spouse: an individual is bound to one by nature, and to the other by choice. One can love both equally strongly, but in different ways.
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inShare.1Michele Wucker is a senior fellow at the World Policy Institute and author of Lockout: Why America Keeps Getting Immigration Wrong When Our Prosperity Depends on Getting It Right, to be published in May 2006 by Public Affairs.
Recommended Citation:
Michele Wucker, “The Benefits of Dual Citizenship” (Washington, DC: Foreign Policy In Focus, February 17, 2006)
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Comment by Fahlolla on 17 January 2013:
A wide angle view of IndiaIssues Views ReviewsHomeArchivesAbout this BlogUSEFUL LINKSWhy I blogComment PolicyFavourite ReadsMy AwardsNet Etiquette.Dual Citizenship – good or bad?
May 26, 2008
tags: Dual Citizenship, Overseas Citizenship, PIO.It is difficult for someone who has lived in one country most of their life to understand why anyone would want Dual Citizenship. Dual citizenship automatically implies dual loyalties and that is what throws up the very uncomfortable question:
How is it possible for a person to be loyal to two countries, particularly if one has political rights or works in government jobs?
Many governments feel it isn’t…India for example. It had mulled over giving dual citizenship to its citizens but finally decided not to. On the other hand countries like the United States have allowed dual citizenship, recognizing the fact that an immigrant could have loyalties to both the U.S. and to his/her home country.
Disadvantages (Cons) of Dual Citizenship from a government’s point of view
Not that there isn’t criticism in the United States about this… as far as back as 1998, Mark Fritz termed this in the Los Angeles Times as portable patriotism. Others like him feel that enemies of America could misuse the dual citizenship to do harm to the country. As dual citizenship means ease of travel (no requirement for visas) it could come of use to anyone with a terrorist intention. Other critics may not see a nefarious design on the part of a dual citizenship holder, but they do fear that a dual citizenship could prevent immigrants from properly “assimilating” in their new country. This article says that though the United States government “allows” dual citizenship, of late they have become uncomfortable with the idea
There is also a view (article by Dan Eden) that American citizens who are also citizens of Israel and in powerful governmental positions have Israeli interests in mind rather than American, and that decisions pertaining to the middle east (example Iraq war) were more to benefit Israel’s strategic interests rather than America’s. The bbc has written about a book by two US academics which also talks in critical terms of the “Israel” lobby. Not surprisingly, this book received a lot of flak and was accused of being anti-semitic. I don’t want to go into the merits of the case here…the point I am trying to make is that there will always be suspicions that an immigrant with dual nationality (who holds an important governmental position) will try and benefit his home country.
Some countries which allow Dual Citizenship
Canada
Russia
France
Israel
United Kingdom
United States
Australia
Some countries which forbid Dual Citizenship
China
India
Philippines
Germany
Japan
Advantages of a Dual Citizenship (Pros)
There are a huge number of advantages that a dual passport holder has…and many of them are financial. If he/she is a business traveler then it means less wastage of time in getting visas, permissions etc if he travels to his other country. It also means that there is no problem buying property in that country or getting access to restricted areas. And he can avail of these benefits from both countries! There is also the infinite advantage…of belonging. It’s not easy to get a sense of belonging to the adopted country unless one is born and brought up there…and a citizenship of the home country can give that sense of being rooted, or a sense of emotional satisfaction. This will vary from person to person but I suspect that giving up one’s Indian citizenship would be a heart wrenching decision for most people.
India will not give its citizens dual citizenship
There were strong rumours that the Indian government was going to allow its citizens to be the citizens of two countries but now it is extremely unlikely this will happen. There are too many security concerns. In fact it’s not just Pakistan or China that India is wary of, there are groups in India (communist and to some extent the BJP) who do not trust the United States and they will never agree to this.
Overseas Citizenship (OCI)
To assuage its citizens abroad India has come out with the Overseas Citizenship (OCI) scheme. It gives the holder financial benefits and ease of travel…but it’s important to remember that the OCI does not entitle one to an Indian passport. Some might call the OCI Indian citizenship but no way does it mean Indian nationality or real Indian citizenship. The OCI is simply a stamp on the existing foreign passport…in other words something akin to a life-long visa. Those eligible are Indian migrants from Independent India (and their children and grandchildren) who have acquired foreign citizenship…but not those who have acquired citizenship of Pakistan or Bangladesh or ever were the citizens of these countries. The OCI gives the following benefits:
right to indefinitely visit, study or work in India
right to own most types of property in India (excluding agricultural properties)
Dispenses with the need to register with local police/immigration authorities
But what it does not give is:
Right to vote
Eligibility for government employment
Unrestricted access to restricted/protected areas
(For more details on the OCI, please visit the links above and make inquiries with the Indian embassy as these are just brief details)
The Person of Indian Origin (PIO) Card
This is very similar to the OCI, and so are the eligibility criteria….if there is a difference in the eligibility criteria, I was not able to access this information. The main difference between the OCI and the PIO is that the PIO is temporary and lasts for 15 years from the date of issue. Also, PIO Card holders are usually required to register with police/immigration authorities if they stay more than 180 days.
The other benefits are similar…and as in the case of the OCI, holders of the POI have no political rights and cannot hold jobs in the government.
(For more details on the PIO, please visit the links above and make inquiries with the Indian embassy as these are just brief details)
Good or bad, no chance of dual citizenship for Indians
As of now Indians will have to be satisfied with the OCI or the PIO. It is bound to hurt those who desperately want to maintain a link with India by keeping their Indian nationality but at the same time do not want to forgo the benefits that their host country will offer if they become its citizens. And why should they? After all, they give their sweat and blood to that foreign country and should expect something in return…but well, for that they need to become citizens. And if they do that, they have to perforce sever their relationship with India…officially I mean.
I personally do not know whether the dual citizenship concept will work in India. What I do know is that it works very well between two peaceful countries that share mutual trust. For example Canada and Britain or Britain and Australia.
(It was Amit who gave me the idea to write about Dual Citizenship. Thanks Amit.)
(photo credits: photo of passports is from howtogermany, the second photo has been made by me by combining two separate flag pictures
Comment by Selomo on 17 January 2013:
First, people who legitimately have South African citizenship and have permanent jobs there and have nothing to lose by renouncing their Lesotho citizenship. I spend the Christmas holiday in Maseru with my South African cousins who have never claimed their Lesotho citizenship even though their parents were born and raised here.
Secondly, do not confuse having a South African ID with having South African citizenship. There are many Basotho who carry Lesotho passports, and have South African ID as permanent residents (not citizens) of South Africa (e.g. Pakalitha Mosisili). They will not have to apply for work permits to keep their jobs in the RSA.
The Constitution of Lesotho may be amended tomorrow to permit dual citizenship by the legislature, but that will not solve the problem. It is South African that want rid of Basotho, not the other way round. So the solution is under Table Mountain not on top of Mpilo Hill.
Hands up all those who have South African IDs and work for the Government of Lesotho!!!!!!!
Comment by Fahlolla on 17 January 2013:
Dual citizenship issues clarified
15
15 November 2004
The government has appealed to South Africans with dual citizenship to use their South African passports when leaving or returning to the country.
According to the South African Citizenship Amendment Act of 2004, that came into effect on 15 September, it is now an offence for locals with dual citizenship to use their foreign passports to leave or gain entry to the country.
It is also an offence for a citizen, while in South Africa, to use his or her foreign citizenship to gain advantage or avoid a responsibility or duty, says the Department of Home Affairs.
However, the new Act allows South Africans with dual nationality to freely use their foreign passports outside South Africa.
A provision of the South African Citizenship Act of 1995, allowing the minister of home affairs to deprive a citizen of his or her citizenship for having used the citizenship of a foreign country, has been repealed.
As a result, the need for exemptions or letters of permission from the minister to make use of a foreign passport has now been terminated.
“The issue of deprivation of citizenship was inconsistent with the Constitutional right to citizenship”, said Home Affairs spokesperson Nkosana Sibuyi.
“Accordingly, we would like to advise all South Africans who have dual citizenship and do not have South African passports to apply for their South African passports at the earliest opportunity.”
The department said it was mindful that many affected South Africans might not yet be aware of the amendments and their implications.
“We have therefore decided that affected South Africans departing or arriving through our ports of entry, attempting to use a foreign passport, will be issued with a warning giving them three months to obtain a South African passport”, Sibuyi said.
He added that authorities would not, in the meantime, prevent anyone from leaving or entering the country, provided they had applied for the relevant document.
Source: BuaNews
Read more: http://www.southafrica.info/abroad/dualcitizenship.htm#ixzz2IEXYcTda
Comment by Alexis on 17 January 2013:
If it were not for the useful engagement by most of the comments this far, i would be neurotic by the ”comment’ passed by Leoto. The naivity he/she has displayed warrants not much comment except to indicate that Molapo is the relevant minister as has been raised in the article. By virtue of his position, he is the person that we need to scrutinse before anybody else. That his mother is South African is common knowledge, as is the fact that he used that to acquire his South African citizenship.
A Selomo, you are spot on like most people who have stuck to the point in issue. As for those comparing Lesotho and the US etc, its symbolises how erratic people can be by comparing apples and bananas just because they are both fruits. Thorough analysis goes beyond that!
Comment by Alexis on 17 January 2013:
If it were not for the useful engagement by most of the comments this far, i would be neurotic by the ”comment’ passed by Leoto. The naivity he/she has displayed warrants not much comment except to indicate that Molapo is the relevant minister as has been raised in the article. By virtue of his position, he is the person that we need to scrutinse before anybody else. That his mother is South African is common knowledge, as is the fact that he used that to acquire his South African citizenship.
A Selomo, you are spot on like most people who have stuck to the point in issue. As for those comparing Lesotho and the US etc, its symbolises how erratic people can be by comparing apples and bananas just because they are both fruits. Thorough analysis goes beyond that!
How i despise people who confuse permanent residence status with citizenship, and yet they claim to be in the know. Lord have mercy.
Comment by Lerato on 17 January 2013:
@Fahlolla,
We are not interested to read that clarification, we don’t need that so-called dual citizenship. Professional Basotho working in South Africa must renounce their Lesotho citizenship because they are free to work anywhere in the world. They must not violate our rights in Lesotho just because of their selfish interests. If they work in that country, they must comply with laws governing that country but they must also respect the laws of Lesotho as they don’t have any right to undermine the law governing the country of Lesotho. Lesotho is a sovereign state despite its poverty, Lesotho is not the province of South Africa like as some of stupid Basotho like it to be.
We are not jealous of those Basotho working in South Africa but they must respect the rights of Basotho remaining back home, they mustn’t force us nor Government to amend and implement laws that will violate the rights of Basotho working and living in Lesotho. They must comply with SA laws, come back home at Home Affairs Lesotho to surrender all Lesotho identities, and then be in possession of South African documents as they wished. They cannot serve or work for two gods at the same time on earth, never!
Comment by BKC on 17 January 2013:
In a Country where parliament has not passed or reviewed one legislation in a period of 8 months, it would be impossible to have such a complex legal issue discussed and resolved as soon as yesterday!
What is simply going to happen is practically for the affected Basotho to renounce their Lesotho Nationality!
The point is, we have clearly been pushed against a wall and we have no where to run to!
This is not a matter of whether we have a ‘chakalaka’ gorvenment, LCD/BCP government, Military government nor BNP government!
It is a historical agenda that has since been driven for by the Apartheid government and supported by the then imperialist Britain to swallow up this little painful ‘kidney’ at the center of RSA!
The RSA is simply seizing the right opportunity to squeeze Lesotho into negotiating becoming the tenth province of RSA, through ruthless economic sanctions!
The Zuma government is simply operationalizing the long known intentions of the ANC, in much as it was politely put that ‘The People of the high commission territories shall decide their own fate-to join the liberated RSA or stay outside’!
The scare tactics have been the mass killings of SA miners in Marikana, as it is commonly known Basotho were the most likely People to bear the brunt in great numbers!
The ruthless tactics in addressing the farm workers strike is one strategy!
The merciless butchering of a Mosotho bussiness man recently by the SAP,Thokoana this monday, that has beenwidely publicised has been the final terror tactic by RSA to scare us into complying!
The hard fact is, all other justifications aside, that the RSA has become and will continue to become a bully in the region!
They have learned well how Iserael has been doing that unchallenged by the international community in the middle east and have now been adequately schooled to experiment in the Southern African region! And Lesotho is just the first while the rest members in the region shall soon follow.
Pity the frontline states that have borne the brunt of the Apartheid monster that ruminated the Nations of the region where and when they were protecting the liberation fighters of the ANC!
E Futhumetse Marabe joale e qalile ho re harola !!!
Comment by Bobete on 17 January 2013:
The constitution is not cast in stone, amend it and we enjoy the fruits of our fathers toil. Ba bangata khale ba imona monoana fela ba hanela ba bang.
Comment by Lerato on 17 January 2013:
@Fahlolla
“”However, the new Act allows South Africans with dual nationality to freely use their foreign passports outside South Africa.”"
Let me warn you brother; South African ANC government approved of dual citizenship just because their main focus is on overseas especially Europe and America-USA as they consider themselves Europeans and/or Americans. I know black South Africans. They wanted and wished that their country could had been located in Europe or America-USA. They are not interested to other foreign Africans at all, thats why they will keep on deporting Africans only. South African government will never deport any white people from Europe, America and Australia, they will only deport black people from African continent.
They allow dual citizenship in their country just because Europe and America-USA allowed dual citizenship. Even if Lesotho would wake up tommorrow amending that dual clause, South Africa will still continue tightening everything for Lesotho nationals, they will never ease anything for Basotho living in RSA and in Lesotho. ANC people hate Lesotho and Basotho, no matter if you enter their country leagally or illegally. Black people in RSA descriminate other Africans more than the boers during their regime.
Comment by hama on 17 January 2013:
‘Na keletso ea ka ho basotho ba ke hore hlokomelang nakong eo SA ehlileng e kenya molao oona tsebetsong batho ba bang ba tla lahleloa ke thepa eohle ea bona,matlo,makoloi,matsete a lichelete.Hase feela mesebetsi.Le tseba MA-SA kamoo a leng bitter ka teng,haholo joang ha u fumana hore basotho ba tsoere high posts.
HOPOLANG STORY SA RAZZMATAZZ ea neng a sebetsa SABC.
TAKE A QUICK DECISION.LAHLA THAT PAPER WORK RE NTSE RE TSEBA LE BASOTHO.Ha u batla ho khutlela Lesotho to retire,you denounce SA status.
Haele ha joale empa SA e leka ho tsireletsa mesebetsi ea batho ba bona.
Comment by Kelepi on 17 January 2013:
Lesotho has limited resources, not even adequate 4 its people. So 2 hear some1 say our 1993 constitution is outdated is puzzling me. I think our constitution is there 2 protect us Basotho as nation not individuals. It’s not long time ago when people were complaining that Chinese getting Lesotho citizenship very easily without renouncing their Chinese citizenship. So the solution is that Lesotho should allow South Africa 2 excise its sovereignty or else Lesotho should renounce its sovereignty and became another province of South Africa so that we benefit all.
Comment by Ape on 17 January 2013:
Why am I not surprised that most of you focus only on one side of the debate? To make sound decisions, you need a balance of both sides. As you do this, do not let your fears to influence your decisions. Reading the comments here, it’s easy to notice that some of you confuse facts and reasons with fear. For instance, Zandile writes, “… business guys from South Africa operating here as foreigners will quickly apply for citizenship and take every business oportunity …” This statement is neither a fact nor a reason but mere fear emerging from the brain that cannot think critically. Advice: think and wonder a little before you open your mouth or put pen to paper or drop your fingers on your computer keyboard.
Comment by patlo on 17 January 2013:
Who is Thokoana ??? I think you can also open our minds by telling us what happened to him/her
Comment by Qacha on 17 January 2013:
The late Thokoana is a former De Doorns farm worker who later turned into a small business man. He was BRUTALLY killed by SA Police for speaking Sesotho. De Doorns is in Cape Town, where many wine farms are found, most farm workers are from Lesotho just like in SA mines. THOKOANA was shot at close range many times by live ammunition, his Lesotho passport was shown several times on E tv news bulletin.
Comment by Khomo ea Molatelle on 17 January 2013:
RE LEBOHA MOLIMO HA A POTLAKISITSE MA-EGYPRT HORE A TLO OELA LEOATLE. Lihloa LEKHOARA PUSONG EA LETSEMA.
Ke TORO fela eo. Ha le na 2/3. HELLLLEE BASHAAANYA, TABA TSA LONA, LIHLAETSE PONTSEEENG!!
Comment by Lerato on 18 January 2013:
@hama
Lefats’eng ntlo ea motho e mong ha e na boroko, ke ka hona batho ba tlamehang ho hlompha le ho boulela seng se senyane seo ba nang le sona. ‘Muso oa likaffir tsa ANC o tla lula o sena khotso bohaisaneng ba ona le Lesotho re rata kapa re sa rate. Ma-South Africa ke sechaba se bitter ka ho fetisisa lefats’eng, habana khotso hohang le baahi ba continent ea Africa. Africa mona ha ho na naha eo sechaba sa teng se leng bitter joalo ka ma-South Africa fela ba ipolelisaka hakana hore bona naha ea bona e ruile.
Joale ha naha ea bona e ruile, keng ha ba le bitter hakale ho feta mafutsana aa a Africa? Ehlile kea tiisa kere Basotho bohle ba rutehileng ba sebetsang South Africa haba nyahlatse boahi le tokelo tsa Lesotho hajoale ba sale ka litokelo tsa RSA fulltime molemong oa mesebetsi ea bona naheng eno, ha hona letho le tlaba lahlehela. Haeba ba ntse ba batla ho khutlela naheng ea bona, ba tlanne ba tle ba tlo lokisa boahi le litokelo tsa bona Lesotho ke habo bona, ba nyahlatse boahi ba RSA haba se ba tsofetse, ba tlanne ba etse khomo boela hae. Empa nakong ena ea bocha ba bona, haba shebe tsa menyetla ea bona hobane kannete Dual citizenship eona hare e batle naheng ena ea Lesotho, e tlaa le litholoana tse babang ho Basotho ba bangata ba setseng hae.
Puso ea ANC rea e tseba ha e na khotso le Africa eohle hase Lesotho feela, re mpa re ameha haholo hobane re ahisane le tsona liabolose tseno tsa batho. Ke ka hona Nkosazana Zuma a ileng a fumana mathata ha a iketela boetapele ba AU maAfrica a sa batle ehlile ba bonts’a hore South Africa is harshly bullying African countries especially Lesotho among others. O qetelletse a khethiloe ka bobolu ba Zuma ka ho briba lihole tse ling tsa baetapele ba Africa moo, empa ba bang ba bile lihlooho li thata ba mo bolella mahlong hore ba keke ba khethe anybody from bully RSA. Kahoo ha ho makatse hore hajoale ba targetile Lesotho graduates haholo hobane barutehi ba South Africa haba sebetse, joale Basotho ba kekeng ba lahla Lesotho citizenship ba tla ikutloa ba tla llela lebese le qhalaneng. Haele dual citizenship eona e keke ea etsahala. We don’t have to compromise the future of Basotho remaining in Lesotho.
Dual citizenship ke bohlanya bo South Africa e batlang ho tla inyafela li-natural resource tse nyane hakana tsa Lesotho mahala fela tjena joalokaha ba etsa ka metsi a lihlaba moo ba inkelang metsi a Lesotho mahala-hala ka M35million monthly empa bona ba a rekisetsa Ma-South Africa ka price e holimo ebile ba ba patalisa tax holima metsi ao Lesotho mona ba laetseng ‘muso fela hore ba sekanna ba patalisoa tax bona. Ka holimo ho moo ba bile ba batla ho rekisetsa Botswana metsi a Lesotho eleng ntho’e sieo tumellanong ea bona. Hee a tella matlolaterata ana a ANC a tsoang likhohlong.
Comment by Joe Lekau on 18 January 2013:
I think Section 41 of the Constitution of Lesotho MUST be amended as soon as possible to allow dual citizenship for those who want to hold dual citizenship.
DUAL citizenship does not necessarily mean that people will be forced to hold dual citizenship BUT those who are interested should be free to do so and those who are not interested should remain with their single citizenship.
Basotho working or residing in South Africa must be free to be South African citizens if they so wish otherwise if the Section is not amended swiftly then there will have serious repercussions if thousands of Basotho are deported back to Lesotho. Currently Lesotho has serious economic problems with the unemployment levels reaching unprecedented levels and which are not going to be solved by those NAIVE individuals advocating for single citizenship.
The sooner the amendment was made the better for the sake of our thousands and thousands of brothers and sisters in RSA and for sake of the economy of Lesotho.
NAIVITY IS THE BIGGEST ENEMY OF OUR COUNTRY.
Comment by Lerato on 18 January 2013:
ANC monsters are now forcefully aiming to conquer Lesotho and kill all those living in it. ANC is revenging against those communities that helped them during their brutal white regime. ANC terrorise Lesotho just like Israel is terrorising Palestine in the Middle-East. And they planned to scare away all Basotho Professionals working and living in their country in the name of implementing so-called dual citizenship and warning those affected to choose between the two.
How cruel is the black ANC regime, they allowed themselves to be badly used by the Boers within ANC to brutally torture African countries that had helped them during apartheid era especially Lesotho. So, the Black ANC Puppets are acting carelessly because they are narrow-minded. We had been hiding and protecting them during that brutal white regime and now they are snakes that are biting us.
Comment by Lerato on 18 January 2013:
@Joe Lekau
Basotho working and residing in South Africa will not be in serious problem of losing their jobs if they comply with SA laws. They must come home and renounce their original citizenship for the sake of their jobs. By the time they have grown up, need to retire or whatever, they are welcome to come home home and denounce their status as they are Basotho by birth. I reiterate, Lesotho should not compromise the future of Basotho just because they wanted to satisfy Basotho working in a foreign country as you think they are smart/better than Basotho remaining in Lesotho.
Why can’t they renounce their status because they voluntarily have chosen to work for a foreign country that doesn’t benefit Lesotho with anything at all? Even if that RSA also targeted at Basotho miners with that dual citz, they can renounce their status too. We don’t need that thing called dual citz in this country, ANC people’s intention at the moment is to colonise Lesotho and brutalise Basotho as usual more than they do now. We are sick and tired of brutal South Africa under tyrannical Zuma administration.
Comment by Zizo on 18 January 2013:
I don’t get why if people are so scared that “South Africans” or the “Rich” are going to take all their business opportunities they don’t do something about grabbing those said opportunities for themselves.
Atleast there will be jobs created!
It bothers me when you have people complain about something they can change. Don’t blame others because you are blind to the possibilities.
And who said anything about granting foreigners citizenship on a whim? Lesotho agreeing to dual citizenship has no bearing on who we let be a citizen. We are allowed to decline giving citizenship.
#Just saying
Comment by Lerato on 18 January 2013:
@Zizo
Go and stay in South Africa if you are so eager to be a South African. South Africa must start enriching its citizens first if you think RSA is that rich. We will continue fighting this idea of dual citizenship. You talk about job opportunities that will be created by South African opportunists who will come to take advantage of that so-called dual citizenship? Why don’t they create jobs for many poor South Africans? Are they that kind enough to create jobs for foreigners like Basotho instead of their own people who are struggling?
We are enough with Chinese who have taken almost everything that were being done by Basotho in the past years,so we don’t need another foreign opportunists. We have Chinese who have created jobs for poor Basotho and its enough. We don’t need poor or opportunists South Africans here. Small businesses must be in the hands of poor Basotho, period!
Comment by fufu on 18 January 2013:
Batho beso, ho sebetsa naheng eo e seng ea heno ho hloka tumello ea ho sebetsa(work permi), empa ho ba le tjako peli ho bolela hoba moahi oa naha e joalo. ‘me sena ka kutloisiso ea ka, NMDS e letsholong hore batho ba lefe likalimo tseo ba li filoeng ho ea sekolong. joale ha re eba le tjako peli, NMDS e tla fihlela joang baa beo entseng eba sokolisa hore ba tlo lefa? na hase mo moo ba tlo nyamella ruri naheng tseo ba nang le tjako ho tsona? Batho beso, ha re elng hloko lintlha tse ling ha re lokela ho etsa qeto ea tjako peli. naha ea boaehelani ena le khahlamelo e matla litlolong tsa molao, ba bang ba tla li etsa mona ba eo ipata teng kap ba li etse teng ba tlo ipata koano ka letsoalo le khutsitseng hobane bana le bojaki. Le tiile le re tjako peli e fanoe Lesotho moo?
Comment by mohlalefi on 19 January 2013:
Ha se ntho e kabang ea etsahala.O tla qala kae?Ke ho loantsa tlholeho.O le mang oena?
Comment by mohlalefi on 19 January 2013:
Ha se ntho e kabang ea etsahala.O tla qala kae?Ke ho loantsa tlholeho.O le mang oena?ke kelello tsa bo-colony.
Comment by Sakunyane on 19 January 2013:
It is high time lesotho le batla free state
Comment by Asemie on 19 January 2013:
Sekhukhuni se bonoa ke sebatalali
Pingback by Lesotho Diocesan Association » Basotho face deportation from SA on 19 January 2013:
[...] Thousands of Lesotho nationals who hold South African identity documents (IDs) risk being kicked out of South Africa if they don’t renounce their Lesotho citizenship within the next few months. Those who are in Lesotho but hold South African IDs will also have to decide which citizenship they want to retain or they will automatically lose their South African IDs. This is because South Africa’s Citizens Amendment Act of 2010 outlaws dual citizenship for people who come from countries that prohibit dual citizenship. Lesotho is one such country. [...]
Comment by Edwin on 19 January 2013:
@ Alexis and Sandile, guys I personally believe you are losing it. If you are so much afraid of White SA business men benefiting from Lesotho by virtue of citizenship, do you count is better when Lesotho is gradually becoming the business centre for Chinese people, some of whom owning Lesotho passports? In actual fact, is it less or more to the benefit of Basotho if the current dual citizen clause in the constitution be changed? Its only going to create more gap between the poor and the rich if it remains the way it is. Lesotho is landlocked by a big economy and at the mercy of SA every single minute, no matter how you guys see it, and it has less to protect (compared to what is there to gain) from SA. I can fill 105 pages ntse ke ngola! But to your attention, a few will benefit if the constitution remain that way and the masses shall suffer quite a lot baba! You must be one of the few who benefit from that clause and you fill there is more to protect, ignoring the cries of those who live from hand to mouth.
Comment by Edwin on 19 January 2013:
@Lerato. How many countries and of how much economical muscles deny their people dual Citizenship? Denying people Citizenship by the state is oppression as we know it, to confine people to one area when they can spread their wings and fly. Now the world has become a global family, ready to accept everyone with skills. So Lesotho political leaders have always wanted the nation to remain under their armpits. That is why they even come in when the foreign work organizations want to pay their employee decent wages, saying that in Lesotho the maximum wage is, while other countries say the minimum is. Mmuso oa Mosisili has never wanted people to prosper, perhaps political leaders, that is why we have such clause in the institution. Many wealthy countries give their people that opportunity and invite others with international experience. Lesotho is too poor to deny people that, and if it really loves its people, its weak financial muscles, and the knowledge that it has very little for its citizens, must compel it to quicken dual citizenship issue!
Comment by S'bongile on 19 January 2013:
Lona dulang Lesotho mona (ha ke re le bua tjee hobane le na le mesebetsi? rona re’a South Africa re ilo sebeletsa bana ba rona re hloka se eang ka maleng. ehlile ke se ke na le phasepoto ea south africa; why not? ha ke re mebuso eeo ea lona e sebetsa ka nepotism? honeng ke dutse naheng e putsoa eeo ke senne meno ke sa thole mosebetsi?
Comment by MJ on 19 January 2013:
@Mzini, the question Sampo asked is not at all puzzling.
@Sampo, Lesotho will get what it has always wanted, its profesionals. Remember our Prime Minister had a meeting with our profesionals in SA asking them what it is they wanted so they can come back home. That means they need them, just that they cannot offer them what South Africa is giving them. MONEY that equal their skills.
Now, if they are deported, Lesotho will not have to convince them to come back home. SA will serve them on a silver platter.
Lesotho will benefit alot because, these people are used to working hard and pushing for results, sharp minds and are much competetive. They again will be desperate for jobs so, will take less pay in the stead of no pay.
Comment by eena on 20 January 2013:
Haele hore le lla ka hore re tlile South Africa hobane re baleha li peanuts teng o fositse. Re tlile mona hobane ho sena mosebetsi hae for our qualifications, empa le teng haeba ono lebeletse hore ke lule hae ke bolaoe ke tlala le teng o ntso nya! Fela haele hore ke tlohele citizenship ea Lesotho, ka baka la tlala, ke tla etsa joalo, empa haho moo etla tsoela uena molemo kateng. Ke utloa le ikeme lere re tsamae, mamela, haho moo e tla o tsoela molemo teng. Infact the country stands to lose more as it’s dwindling tax base and skills base will dwindle even further. If o sena monyetla oa ho nka citizenship ea S.A, don’t hate on those who can.
Infact I renounce my Lesotho citizenship now, but ntse ke tla lula Lesotho, kebe ke nke passport e ncha as passports ke tsona citizenship. Lesotho systems are very poor. And we know it.
Comment by Maipato lehlakeng on 20 January 2013:
Ache Basotho!!! hantlentle ntlha ea dual citizenshiop ho Basotho ha e hlokahale joalo kaha ho sa hlokahale hore Lesotho le South Africa li sebelisetsana Lipassport. Hantlentle haho Mosotho eo eseng Mo South Africa haeba le tseba History ea lona hantle. IT IS NOT TRUE THAT THE DECLARATION OF MOSOTHO ON SOUTH AFRICA WITH OR WITHOUT AN ID IS DEVOID OF TRUTH(FRAUDULENT. THE ID AS A REPLACEMENT OF A” DOMPASS”nor a recent LESOTHO PASSPORT as replica of a reference document imposed by the Queen of England to devide blacks for purposes known to psuodo protectorate and yet colonial ruling of that time SHOULD NOT CONTINUE DEVIDING BLACKS. I will stay an advocate of reunion in this present time when LESOTHO and SOUTH AFRICA are now democratic states. I HAVE ANCESTRAL GRAVES IN BOTH LESOTHO AND SOUTH AFRICA WHICH ARE EVER IN MY HEART THE SAME PLACE WHICH IS MY HOME. I REFUSE TO BE DEVIDED BY BAD HISTORY. If there are any benefits in the former ENGLAND LAND”LESOTHO” as well as the former illegally BOER acquired land SOUTH AFRICA, LET ALL BLACKS UNITE AND BENEFIT FROM BOTH. AFRICA IS OUR LAND LET ALONE LESOTHO AND SOUTH AFRICA. THIS ID AND PASSPORT IMPOSED DESIGNATIONS SHOULD BE DONE AWAY WITH.
Comment by Jacob zuma on 20 January 2013:
My dear i have lesotho passport what should i do? Please advice
Comment by Sandisk on 20 January 2013:
Basotho, ea Khutla Naha!!!
Esale nako ena re e labalabela hore na ke neng re tla ba le litokelo mobung o utsoitsoeng ke maburu ka sehloho eaba OAU e thatiselletsa taba ena ka melao ea teng. Ho ba le tokelo ea molao ka mose ho Mohokare ke ho bolela hore Basotho ba tla imona menoana ntle le tsetiso. Ntho e bitsoang double taxation e ke ke ea sebetsa ha feela bopaki ba hore u khafela e ngoe ea linaha tsena tse kopantsoeng ka lehopo le le leng. Melemo o e fumana kahohle hobane u tla fumana kalafo mona hae kapa mose ho Mohokare ka theko tse tlaase. Bana ba rona ba tla kena lokolo tse phahameng ka chelete tse tlaase. Banna, a monate oa taba. Ntho e bitsoang boikhethelo bakeng sa Mosotho ka mong e tlo eketseha. Limaene tseo bo ntat’a rona ba neng ba li fata ka mali a bona re tla li jela khetlong lena.
Tsutsumetso ea ho feta ka bonolo malibohong e tlo eketseha, le bo relipolotiki ba bosaoana ba tla feela hobane bakhethi ba tla ba furalla ba ilo vouta ka mose ho mohokare. Service delivery e tla eketseha ele ha linaha tsena tse peli li akofisa taba ea ho hohela baahi hore ba lule ka meeling ea bona.
Ke bona khotso, nala le pula e ngata tabeng ena. Basotho, ha rennkeng monyetla ke ona o hlaile. tlotlo le oele mokhoabane, ra tsoa bokoloneng ka melao e siiloeng ke nako ke baikhabi le marena a mehleng ea khale ka boinahano. Africa e ea kopana, ha re be ba pele ba ho nka monyetla le ho bontsa hore manoni ha a tsoanele makhooa feela. Dual Citizenship, our passport to better choice and better life. Long live Basotho, long live South Africans!!!
Comment by Tlelapa on 20 January 2013:
At BKC, the subject has nothing to do with Marikana, Lesotho is not being swallowed by RSA (U tella Basotho), Basotho will be the ones who benefit more through better choice of opportunities.
At Lerato, you sound more like someone who masquarades as Nkosazana Zuma, you sound neurotic, a chauvinist and a downright bigot who sees nothing good about South Africa (all businesses here in Lesotho are either South african or supported strongly by South Africa. You do not advance any rationalised issues except to spread fear and hate. No one will be serving two gods in dual citizenship as you allege. South Africa will not expel anyone who is in South Africa legally. Remember your brother Wesly Snipes, he got a fraudulent id. He got his matching orders despite being American citizen.
At Alexis, comparing India, Ireland, US, UK with Lesotho and RSA is not like comparing bananas and apples. It is to point out the benefits or otherwise of the dual citizenship as it applies in those countries. You may have African countries that practice dual citizenship apart from RSA, please give them as examples. Do not fear the concept. You speak as if South Africans or Basotho will be streaming to either of the two countries. It will not happen because no one will be advertising for that. But if your daughter, son, niece or nephew wants RSA citizenship they will not be hamstrung by silly laws.
At Kelepi, the subject has nothing to do with chinese. They got fraudulent papers because of greed and nothing else. RSA has tightened their borders, no Chinese or foreigner will come to Lesotho without transit visa, unless of course they are members of SADC or grouping that has visa abolishen laws with Lesotho.
Lesotho government must start to work frantically with RSA and even negotiate an extended time when referendum or amendment of relevant clauses of constitution to allow dual citizenship are being done.
Basotho of Lesotho anywhere in the world, despite having it nicest where they stay, ha ba kholoe, except if they are married in those countries. Whether they stay in USA, UK or otherwise, they always come back home to rest or retire. This is about freedom and respect of peoples rights which do not have to trampled upon by politicians. Its high time we claim our place in that land without having to go to war about it – As they say: Ea Khutla Naha!!! You snooze, you lose. Ea senang sekaja Mmae a tele, a telle motela ruri.
Comment by Edwin on 20 January 2013:
I read almost all the comments and they reveal a lot. Level of exposure and education, jealousy and ignorant. Lerato and Alex, use that high level of linguistic intelligence, which you have to speak sense to crab! You guys have good English for nothing. Emptiness and lack of knowledge in evry utterance you produce. Joale Lerato wena kgaitseli yaka ekare jealousy e u mathetse hloohong!
Comment by Edwin on 20 January 2013:
I read almost all the comments and they reveal a lot. Level of exposure and education, jealousy and ignorant. Lerato and Alex, use that high level of linguistic intelligence, which you have to speak sense to crab! You guys have good English for nothing. Emptiness and lack of knowledge in evry utterance you produce. Joale Lerato wena kgaitseli yaka ekare jealousy e u mathetse hloohong! Many Basotho have stayed years in that country without work, they go abroad to get something, joale ba lahle naha ya bona? U entse course efeng nnake?
Comment by Tsoere on 20 January 2013:
Ha ba ka ba etsa ketso eo ea ho ba tebela ba tlo bona ntho esele ma SA ano. ke lla le bona. ha ba ka ba koala maliboho metsi le taemane ba tla lithola ha mae-mae.Re tla shoang kaofela…..
Comment by Liathoena on 20 January 2013:
E mong le emong ea tsebang hore ha se Mosotho ha a tsoe ka hara naha ke phetho ke tu! Ho feta moo li chele! Re lekehile re le Basotho re sebelisoa joalo ka li condom. Ha motho a qeta ho e sebelisa oa e lahla. Nxa fokoff!
Comment by MMANNYOEPE on 21 January 2013:
Pathetic! That sums up a lot of people who comment on this forum. You are a manifestation of the poor thinking standards in our country and your comments are not only void of content but they are childish to say the least! E hokae mesebetsi ee eo le ikemeng lepaketla hore e teng ka hara naha hona li graduate tsee tse tletse-tletseng ka hara naha ha li sebetse keng? Motho oa lona o bua feela tjena molemong oa ho bua a sa ikutloe o ntse a reng. Lesotho educates a lot of its children and with its small economy, it can not abosorb all the graduates that come through. A lot of Basotho kids pursue studies on courses that are not catered for in our economy and the only option is to seek employment outside the country. Basotho are not Nigerians, they are very passionate about their roots and therefore they can not afford to loose their Lesotho citizenship because of some shallow minded individuals who think Basotho working outside the country are unpatriotic. To you shallow minds let me give you this clarity; Basotho expatriates send a lot of money back home which benefits the economy, they built houses, they buy livestock and some invest in farming and other businesses! What needs to be done is for the government to carefully review the laws of the fatherland and cater for Basotho in and ouside the country. The law that prohibits dual citizenship is as outdated and primitive as the dinasours and in today’s globalised world, it will not help emerging nations like ours. As for foreigners taking our businesses or taking over the economy, that is the funniest excuse anyone can come up with! Most if not all the business skyscrapers in Maseru are owned by South Africans. Retail, filing stations, banks are owned by South Africans and one does not need citizenship to operate a business anywhere in the world. Le ea makatsa ha le hloile South Africa tjena feela motho internet ena ea ntseng a ngola ka eona le computer ea teng li tsoa South Africa, tsamaeang le tsotse le apere makoko le tsole liaparo tseno tseo masela a teng a entsoeng Africa Boroa; le buela matlakala ana a lona ruri ka likelello tsena tse kang tsa likokonyana!
Comment by LOBENGULA on 21 January 2013:
It is simple; ammend the constitution to allow dual citizenship for Basotho. Migration is a way of life and anyone suggesting that Basotho be stripped of their God given birth right is out of his mind or he is thinking with his bottom. Basotho also have a right to any citizenship anywhere in the world if they legally qualify for that citizenship. MMANNYOEPE has rightly enlightened these people who just comment for the sake of commenting without any facts other than hatred to South Africans! I can add that it is no coincidence that soldiers assault civilians, soldiers assault some of their own, police toture and kill suspects. Civil servants a rude to the general public and no one cares to address any of this issues.All these atrocities intertwine with the comments of some of the people on this forum who are suggesting that the government should strip nationals of this country of their right; people must be expelled from the country and all this other nonsense suggestions against Basotho outside the country. Something that impresses me about Americans and Israelis is that they are so sensetive about their citizens anywhere in the world.
Comment by mohlalefi on 21 January 2013:
HA BASOTHO Ba TEBELOA R.S.A. BA TSAMAE KA SA BONA;FREISTATA.
Even Stevens; Zuma a bueoa le Nna.Ke Hlompha Abantu,Abantu.Batho.
Linotsi Tsa semana Ngoaneso!
{ Moetapele Oa Basotho}
Comment by Liathoena on 21 January 2013:
Maburu a chaela menoana ka mahafing. Ntse bare hali ruthane ntja tsena.
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Comment by Ntat'a Motsôeneng on 21 January 2013:
Joale reka ahlola mang? Taba ea hore Basotho ba tjametsoe ke ho lelekoa Africa Boroa le ho kobelloa hore ba khethe hore eba Basotho kapa Maafrika Boroa ea makatsa.
Khoeling tse peli tse fetileng Tonakholo Tom Thabane o buisane le mmuso oa Afrika Boroa ka mathata a Lesotho le Basotho.
Why ANC e rata hore Lesotho le e rapele? Basotho le bona ba nkile karolo ho thehoeng hoa ANC, Basotho ba 12 ba shoele Maseru ka 1982 ba sireletsa baphathehi ba Africa Boroa.
Comment by Tlhase on 21 January 2013:
I agree with a whole lot of you. The solution to this is to amend the constitution which our leaders should have done earlier even without SA enforcing this Law. Someone with a vision should have known better. We know that this sole citizenship issue was only used to kick the likes of the late Adam Lekhoaba out of his Fatherland! How sad, why should someone born in Lesotho, Thaba Tseka forfeit his/her citizenship simply because o holetse SA ha batsoali ba falla e be o qeteletse a etsa qualify for SA citizenship. It does not make sense. I should not have to choose between my Fatherland, and the country where I make a living regardless of whether it’s SA or any other country. Let us not be blinded only by the fact that this issues has been raised from SA and Basotho have a natural hatred for SA. It’s a free world, I should be able to reside, live, work, wherever I want. This inalienable right should not compete with or compromise my loyalty to my Fatherland, Lesotho. Being made to choose between the country where I earn a living, and have invested and the country I was born and have invested where the rest of my family still lives is very unfair, and does not make sense. Ke Mosotho oa Lesotho, Finish and Klaar! SA ke moo ke ileng papeng le mosebetsing mme, kaha ke ile ka bona monyetla oa ho ba citizen e le seo ke se hlokang ho fumana advantage tse itseng ha ke reka thepa, property, ke fumana mekoloto li-bankeng, etc ke ile ka applya ID le naturalization eo ke e qualifaelang after 10 years SA, hake bone phoso nna moo? Amend the Lesotho constitution PERIOD.
Comment by Edwin on 21 January 2013:
Joale mona ho bua banna le basali ba maboko a bolileng ke thuto, batho ba nang le chebelo pele. Hee kea teneha ke baphasolohi bana ba nahanelang ka mmetheng!
Comment by Lerato on 21 January 2013:
@Edwin
Who denied you opportunity to work for foreign countries? Is it the first time to you realising that Lesotho is poor? Although Lesotho is poor, it has educated you through NMDS using the poor taxpayers’ money. Now that you work for South Africa, you start criticising your country of birth. Shame on you! You are a disgrace! Renounce your Lesotho citizenship and left with RSA identity.We don’t need your so-called dual citizenship. You have just focused to your selfish interests.
Comment by Lerato on 21 January 2013:
Tsamaeang le fallele South Africa koana lona ba e hlanyetsang haholo, tlohelang ho re tena basotho ba lihole.
Comment by NKOESH on 21 January 2013:
its realy sad indeed, most of our families are working in SA but they dnt wana stay there. choosing which country u prefere z gna b hectic.May God calm this crazy ANC LEADERS
Comment by Tlhase on 21 January 2013:
Nkoesh, SA does not have a problem with anyone working in SA, staying in SA or even attaining SA citizenship documents legally. The problem here is that Lesotho laws (Constitution and Citizenship Act 1971) bars Dual Citizenship – if Lesotho allowed dual citizenship as other countries do, then one can opt to retain both citizenship.
SA Immigration Law (enacted in 2010) to be implemented now says that if you come from a country that disallows dual citizenship then SA cannot allow you to have dual citizenship of SA and the said country. Hence renouncing one of them. I say, it is unfair to ask someone to choose between their home country and the country they live in and reside in. Best Scenario: Lesotho allows its citizens to have citizenship of any other country that allows dual citizenship – Solution Found.
Comment by Edwin on 21 January 2013:
@Lerato. Some times we should learn not to let the love we have for anything cloud our judgments. Its a fact that Lesotho is poor, and the fact remains regardless of the love we have for it. No one is criticizing the country here, but just pointing out facts. I love Lesotho, and by Lesotho I mean people living in it, not the land. To me what makes it a country is people living in it, that is why I wish all Basotho prosperous life including you, not creating bottle-necks for those whom the country cannot accommodate to work in it. You are concerned about you alone, not your brothers who held or have been holding university degrees for many years without work. Its selfish to make people abandon their soil, becoz if the government does nothing, they will be compelled to do so. Apart from
That, change of that clause doesn’t mean you will apply for dual citizenship ha u sa rate, it only makes things easy for those who want to save their jobs or want to try their luck elsewhere abroad. Be objective and stop being selfish. Re batla papa kaofela. Do you even make situational analysis? Are you aware that you only claim that you love your country while you only love yourself? What’s important in the country without people living in it? Sheba ka tsela e molemo, be the better person that you are, and think in dimensions. Perhaps that can save Basotho and you from making selfish statements. For your info, I work in Lesotho, but I feel for my brothers abroad as well as those who have no jobs here!
Comment by Edwin on 22 January 2013:
Lerato, na oa tseba ke Basotho ba bakae ba sebetsang SA? U nahana ha batho bao ba ka khutla ho tla e tsahalang, the level of poverty? If they renounce their citizenship what will happen ka revenue ya Lesotho, coz lesotho government get a lot of money from SA becoz of those people? Careful what you say!
That can have bitter repercussions! It will have serious economical implications to the country itself!!
Comment by LOBENGULA on 22 January 2013:
@ Edwin; that you for a sound analysis and coming to the rescue of people like bo Lerato who still believe the old folklore ea hore ngoana o tholoa nokeng. It is a pity that people like bo Lerato have access to internet and instead of coming up with factual arguments they just resort to dust bin inputs which only soothe their near zero egos. There is a lot that the coalition government needs to engage the ANC government in concerning Basotho in RSA. In my personal observation, there are more uneducated Basotho women and men working in RSA that need to be legalized. The demand and supply theory comes into picture here and it is in the interests of RSA that this people are legally documented because domestic workers for example help a lot of working and upper middle class families who are away at the workplace during the day driving the South African economy. These Basotho ladies are in high demand because of their hard work ethic and for Lesotho, this is an advantage because the RSA domestic worker market has taken off a load on the ever dwindling factory jobs in Lesotho which was traditionally absorbing a lot of Basotho ladies. Basotho men are also ever present in any building construction sites around Johannesburg and Pretoria and they are in high demand also because they are hard workers and they learn quickly. Most coming is as labourers end up being carpenters, blicklayers, painters and plasterers. They have a big input in the driving of the South African economy because of building of malls, business premises, cormecial flats and residential buildings. Therefore, the coalition government has a duty to all Basotho outside the country to make sure their stay in those countries is legal and comfortable. Quick issuing of passports and drivers licences will also help these Basotho and in the long run help our country and the Southern African regional economies.
Comment by Kliketso on 22 January 2013:
The more I read the commentaries here the more I get convinced that a referandum is the way to go, although I hate to quickly add that such a move is bound to fail – the amount of peasant-thinking from most commentators is buffling to say the least. As few sane comments show here, permitting dual citizenship by Lesotho merely opens up opportunities for those Basotho who wish and have the skills required elsewhere, not just in SA; there is no such thing as forcing all and sundry to hold dual citizenship, you can retain your Bosotho of Lesotho if you so wish, but allow others the choice they deserve. I say a referandum is bound to fail because peasants are a majority in this country, a majority that is not even aware that it survives ‘coz some one from their peasant family is holding fort (legally or illegally) somewhere in SA, witness the queues to and fro Lesotho come Easter/Xmas holidays – the truth is there for all to see (those with eyes that is!). For how many years have we been ruled by the will of the peasantry here? Note where the DC got its majority from? Rural peasants! In fact PEASANT is too glorifying a reference as it denotes someone who does something for a living from the land, which clearly is not the case in this country. To be exact, it is rural areas full of loafers,cattle rustlers and rapists of old women. Anyone proud of such a choiceless lot must surely have their brains checked! I can only hope the Malaslapi government approaches this one with all the soberness it deserves.
Comment by pit on 22 January 2013:
It is a shame that a matter as straightforward as this is being taken so much out of proportion, the matter at hand is simple; does the said act as enacted by Lesotho decades ago still work in favour of the nation? A simple answer is no. What is government doing about it? The answer is nothing except raise it to a level where it will create confusion.
It has been my observation over the period of Ntate Molapo’s time as minster of home affairs a whole lot of issues have been brought to the fore but all I see is the minister meeting senior provincial home affairs officers and tagging along the minister of sports. I wonder if Ntate Molapo has had single meeting with his South African counterpart to address all these issues he seems to be always threatening he will resolve, I say threatening because that’s all he has done,handpicked issues that are at the forefront of people’s mind and make us believe he is dealing with. I put it to him that a home affairs officer in Bloemfontein will not sortout these inter-governmental issues at officer level let alone MEC or premier level.
I always cringe when I see a whole minister smiling in front of cameras sitting around the table with home affairs officers from south africa then coming back to tell Basotho their issues are being handled.
Its hightime this coalition government stops doing things for purposes of point scoring and start working for those of us who put it in government and the rest of the nation. The coalition is no longer a group of separate political parties but a single government with one sole purpose,to govern the nation to the best of their ability. I suggest they start doing just that starting from the top. Ntate Thabane rule the nation your no-longer looking out for interests of ABC members or your individual interests. Remember how DC lost power,and do be aware they are waiting at the door please don’t allow this country back to that sorry state.
Comment by Kliketso on 23 January 2013:
Yu got the point there Pit, the issue is fairly uncomplicated, Lesotho hasn’t got much choice here, it has to follow what the Big Brother does. As I said before, it is rare for the Tail to wag the Dog. Lesotho has to follow suit or forever remain an irrelevant irritant to SA. The irrelavant postering by the Minister of Home Affairs with MECs as Pit correctly says, will also not get Lesotho very far, unless Lesotho Govt Ministers view SA’s MECs as thier natural equivalents. Has anyone noted that any innocous meeting between Lesotho’s officers, be it PM or Ministers and their SA colleagues on border issues is followed by at least a 7-day ‘go-slow’ at Maseru Border Post?
Isn’t also amazing that Parliament hasn’t been called as a matter of urgency to address the issue? But last year, immediately after elections, Parliament was called into session merely for them to collect thier free interest loans! Was that matter really of naional significance?
Comment by David B.M on 23 January 2013:
dual citizenship !!!!!! I hate to see south africans taking our resources and making us pay for them . We’l b poor forever if dual citizenship is legalized . Our economy in the books might indicate to be booming due to dual citizenship , bt the fact is that the resources will be in the hands of south africans . I believe this is the right moment for Basotho to stop building their neighbour’s empire and to come Home where they belong !
Comment by David B.M on 23 January 2013:
another point is that we are not sure for how long will south africans allow dual citizenship ! Meaning we really can’t trust them to help ours in terms of job opportunities , come home and do sth reliable to hlp our survive ! Otherwise pack and go to south africa , we can’t risk our children , being economically ruled by s.a in the Mountain Kingdom ! No way !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by madise on 23 January 2013:
hoba mofutsana ke mathata, otla fumana basotho ba Lesotho ba kentse diCondomo/Kgohlopo maotong ba hlodia batho ka dipina tse rwakanang mona ditereneng.
Empa hee, ho molemo ha Lesotho leka dumella lehohle la ID.
Basotho e bile ha ba tsebe ho sotlwa ke lekgowa hore ke ntho e jwang.
Comment by Noko on 23 January 2013:
They say, “insanity makes a man go to sleep with his house on fire”.
Look at what happened with Costa Rica…The country is a neighbour of USA, the sovereignty is useless as they cannot compete militarily, economically with the USA.
They are wholly dependent on usa, except they have the so called sovereignty.
They denounced their independence in 1984…though still autonomous, they are part of the bigger USA now, the citizens are reaping the benefits of being part of the bigger market…They said…”Our insecurity is our security”, as they truly cannot compete with USA… Can we compete militarily/economically with RSA?
Nako ea papali e lokela ho fela…
The sad part is that the crop of RSA politicians/ sympathizers who were prepared to accommodation our concerns are quickly waning off…
Our politicians cannot push for regional integration…they rather push for military intervention in DRC…i wonder if that is the kind of sovereignty we are talking about…
For Alexis and Born to Kill(THE HEARTLESS), i think the name suits u….I have a feeling that u can’t even see beyond ur nose…let alone beyond ur hand reach…ke ho hloka chebelopele..
the issue is giving people a choice than restricting them like animals as if they cannot think for themselves…nobody is saying Everybody should have RSA Citizenship…people should be given an opportunity as our geographic, and economic position requires….
am sure wherever u r..if u look at anything in ur hand right now, from the fruit to the soap and the shirt and underwear ur in right now is “MADE IN RSA/CHINA”…
U go to any butchery and supermarket, chinese or PNP, what ever u buy is from RSA, including “WATER”…
Am sure when Kaizer Chiefs scored against Matlama or Bantu, last weekend u were the first to shout” AMAKHOOOOZI ke POOOHO”… the following morning u talk this crap…sorry for the pun..
it is sad that at Bloemfontein Taxi rank u find basotho head boys selling sweets, go to Durban, Rusternburg, Cape Town, anywhere in RSA, there is an undocumented Mosotho trying to make ends meet…it is sad.
Go to public service files and pick any professional working in RSA, that u claim so much to have been educated by poor Basotho taxes,and check if they were ever even called for an interview….But i can give u the names of at least 5 individuals who have no qualifications who are working in the government of Lesotho who never applied for a post…
Check how many Basotho companies collapsed which have been operating in that country for decades, some minimum 3 decades,who collapsed even though they had experience…eg Draft Civils, VS MGC and NThane Brothers……go to Qoaling, Qacha and Thaba Tseka….ke lona Lerato la naha..
Go to Mohale’s Hoek and look at the road linking race course and St Stevens, that was constructed by Draft Civils, it is still solid after 15years.
It is Sad indeed…
I am writing this document from cape town right now having served my country for 24 years paying the very tax ur talking about and i wonder if there is any tax ur even paying…
..the guy cleaning the complex i am staying in right now is from Botha Bothe…The Lady cleaning my wife’s colleague’s house is from Leribe…the story goes on and on and on…..is it because they don’t like their country…no…CIRCUMSTANCES FORCED THEM….!
The best solution would be to propose a referendum regarding the issue of citizenship…i can tell u people will make a choice….
Wake up and smell the coffee….IT IS SAD…
Comment by Thuso on 23 January 2013:
How about be part of RSA or SA Union like Russian Union in old days.
Then no dual-citizenship problem, and people can cross broder freely as well as job seeking.
Comment by Kliketso on 23 January 2013:
David B.M.
Economically what do you think is ruling you now?
Comment by Moferefere on 24 January 2013:
@ David B.M
kekekekeke ………., ke itshoere mpeng mona ke ho tsheha. you are really such a clown don’t you think? hahahahahaha hhhhhhhhhhhh
Comment by Moferefere on 24 January 2013:
@ David B.M
again, are you already creating jobs for us should Basotho decide otherwise or are you just blurring your horn like the other bootlickers?
Comment by Tsantso on 25 January 2013:
@klisetso. Likhomo tseo, morena. Could you, please,revisit your attitude to the peasantry. Otherwise we do have hope for this country’s future looking at the comments.
Comment by mohlalefi on 30 January 2013:
@Molise,
Ha kea utloa,Oo ko itlhalose.O qaqe, rona…
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Comment by WILLARD MUBVUMBI on 17 February 2013:
SA is right in getting rid of you. Why leaving and forsaking your country? Stay in your nation and help her to develop.
Comment by WILLARD MUBVUMBI on 17 February 2013:
SA, is right in chasing you Basotho. You are reluctant to live in your fatherland. Whom do you expect to develop your country? Go back to your country and develop it.
Comment by phathutsedzo on 17 April 2013:
I really need to help my sister get ID book in order to get a job here in SA she has a Diploma in Business Managament and she’s from Lesotho.
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