28 Feb 2019

 The citizenship amendment bill dealing with dual citizenship has been put on hold for further consultations because it has been observed that it would affect 34 pieces of legislations. 

This was said by the Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso on behalf of the Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs in Parliament on February 27. 

Ms Tshireletso said, “I am quite sure of the importance of linking Omang, passport, driver’s licence and birth certificate, hence my ministry’s commitment to develop an integrated persons identification system that will include the bio-metric data of a person starting next financial year.”

In addition, she said Omang was currently interfaced with the passport, driver’s licence and birth certificate. 

She said once the integrated system had been put in place, it would be linked to the integrated patients’ management system that would have full details of person’s medical data including blood group information. 

The Member of Parliament for Mochudi East Mr Moagi Molebatsi had asked the minister to state the progress on dual citizenship given that some people were yet to make informed decisions regarding their citizenship status. 

Mr Molebatsi also wanted to know if the minister was aware of the importance of linking Omang, passport, driver’s license and birth certificate and also enquired if it was not opportune to consider including blood group information on identity cards. ENDS