Zimbabwe Increases Pressure on White Minority, Strips Citizens of UK Ties

Zimbabwe has tightened its grip on its white minority, issuing an ultimatum to those holding dual citizenship with the UK. The move comes amid growing tensions ahead of parliamentary elections, with opposition leaders condemning the government for its handling of the land crisis. The Zimbabwe Citizenship Office has stated that many individuals with links to Britain have been stripped of their Zimbabwean citizenship, and are now required to hand in their passports.

Key Takeaways:

• The Zimbabwean government has stripped 86,000 citizens of their Zimbabwean citizenship, citing their ineffective renunciation of British citizenship.
• The move is seen as an attempt to exclude white Zimbabweans, who mostly oppose President Robert Mugabe's government, from voting in the upcoming elections.
• The British government has stated that it will take in about 20,000 white Zimbabweans with hereditary claims to British nationality.
• Opposition leaders, including Morgan Tsvangirai, have condemned the government's handling of the land crisis, describing it as "state-sponsored violence" and "intimidatory".
• The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has announced plans for unspecified mass action to protest against the violence and economic decline.
• A memorial service was held in Harare for Allan Dunn, a white commercial farmer who was beaten to death by six men last Sunday.

Statistics:

• 86,000 Zimbabweans have applied for British passports since the beginning of the present crisis.
• 20,000 white Zimbabweans with hereditary claims to British nationality will be allowed to take up residency in the UK.
• 19 lives have been claimed in recent weeks due to land-related violence.
• The Zimbabwean government has condemned the violence, but opposition leaders have expressed skepticism about the sincerity of the statement.
• The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has 100 participants at the National Constitutional Assembly rally.

Sources:

• "Zimbabweans with link to Britain face worse," The Herald, a state-controlled newspaper.
• BBC News, "Zimbabwe: White citizens to lose passports".
• The Guardian, "Zimbabwe's opposition leader condemns Mugabe's handling of land crisis".