13 Jul 2021

The proposed amendment to the Citizenship Act, will see the age of majority change from 21 to 18 years.

Tabling the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill before Parliament on July 12, Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs, Ms Annah Mokgethi said the object of the bill was to amend the Citizenship Act to align the legislation with the age of majority set out in the Interpretation Act.

Ms Mokgethi explained that the age of majority was a threshold of adulthood and a person who had attained such stage assumed full legal capacity and could, without assistance of their guardian, enter into a legally binding contract and was illegible to sue and be sued in their own capacity.

She said Section 9 of the Citizenship Act made provision for registration of persons under the age of 21 as citizens where their father or mother had become a citizen of Botswana while Section 15 provided for dual citizenship up to the age of 21.

Thus, she proposed that sections 9 and 15 of the Citizenship Act be amended by substituting the words 21 years with 18 years so that provisions could be consistent with the age of majority which had been reduced from 21 to 18 years.

Debating the bill, Tati East MP, Dr Douglas Letsholathebe welcomed the proposed amendment arguing that such would serve the best interests of the youth and instil a sense of responsibility among them.

Dr Lesholathebe also applauded the ministry for undertaking vigorous awareness citizen renouncement public education campaigns, particularly in border villages where cross border marriages were prominent.

Bobonong MP, Mr Taolo Lucas, was also for the proposed amendment, saying it was important to reduce the age of majority to 18 years because the age bracket was already  recognised by the Electoral Act in granting legality to vote  in the general elections.

The proposed amendment, he said, was overdue since government had subscribed to the convention on the right of the child which recognised 18 years as the age of majority.

Selebi Phikwe West legislator, Mr  Dithapelo Keorapetse was also pleased that the bill sought to amend sections of the Citizenship Act to align with the age of majority set out in the Interpretation Act, following an amendment by Parliament in 2010.

Mr Keorapetse, nonetheless pleaded with government to encourage the awarding of dual citizenship status to Batswana living abroad.

He said Botswana had in recent times experienced an upsurge in skilled personnel relocating abroad and in turn ceasing their birth right.

The MP also said it was disappointing that Botswana had invested in sending its citizenry abroad only for some to relocate permanently to those countries.

Thus, he said such should be encouraged to apply for dual citizenship rather than relinquishing their nationality.

Kgalagadi North MP, Ms Talita  Monnakgotla, also supported the proposed amendment, arguing that the decision by Parliament to amend the Interpretation Act in 2010 was a welcome development because it aligned the legislation to international standards. Ends