Tanzania is the only East African Community nation that doesn’t allow dual citizenship in adulthood. The Tanzanian government has repeatedly rejected the notion of dual citizenship, asserting that such an arrangement would foster inequality and confusion among Tanzanians. 

Currently, Tanzania prohibits its nationals from holding dual citizenship, except for individuals under the age of eighteen who acquired multiple nationalities at birth. Upon reaching adulthood, these individuals automatically forfeit their Tanzanian citizenship unless they renounce all other nationalities. 

Children born abroad are allowed to keep birth and Tanzanian citizenship until the age of 21, after which they must choose either birth or Tanzanian citizenship. Failure to do so will result in the loss of Tanzanian citizenship.

This policy has been criticised as cruel and unfair for the Tanzanian diaspora. In 2022, six Tanzanians sought to contest the policy in constitutional case No. 18 of 2022. They challenged the Citizenship Act, focusing particularly on sections that criminalise dual citizenship, arguing that their constitutional rights are being violated, petitioning the court to declare the articles invalid because they infringe upon their inalienable natural right of citizenship by birth.

Senior officials have long resisted the notion and asserted it is not for the majority. Home Affairs Minister Hamad Masauni said most Tanzanians don’t want dual citizenship. The attorney general also submitted objections to the case filed by Tanzanians abroad. 

To quell the grievances of Tanzanians abroad, Tanzania has sought to give its former or prospective dual citizens a “special” status that would give them various benefits. However, some officials also believe that Tanzania should allow dual citizenship without any reservations. The issue has caused heated debates in the Tanzanian parliament in the past.

Dual allegiance?

Dual citizenship is mostly conflated with dual allegiance, but it is more than that. The concept of dual citizenship has significantly evolved since its initial introduction in the early 1900s. 

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In 1867, John Warren faced a British jury on treason charges, anxiously awaiting their verdict. Despite having renounced his allegiance to the crown upon becoming a US citizen, Warren, born in Ireland, was tried as a British subject for his involvement in an uprising against the Queen. In sentencing the ‘Irishman’ to fifteen years of hard labour, the presiding judge underscored the principle: once a subject, always a subject.

The phenomenon of dual citizenship emerged as an unintended consequence of one sovereign state refusing to relinquish its citizens to another. Although the term itself was not coined until the early twentieth century, the influx of immigrants naturalising in the United States during the late 1800s led to a significant number of de facto dual citizens. These individuals were claimed by both their new homeland and the countries they had departed.

It is overly simplistic to assume that dual nationality always equates to dual loyalties. Dual citizenship is often a pragmatic necessity for travelling to one’s country of origin without being encumbered by bureaucratic measures like visas and entry permits. 

Other times, it offers additional opportunities for their children, such as EU/American citizenship. Therefore, an additional arrow in a quiver would give one the upper hand when hunting for better opportunities.

Role of diaspora

As Tanzania navigates its economic and political goals, it is pertinent to explore whether Tanzanian diasporans could bolster the nation’s socio-economic and political landscape. 

Globally and locally, nations have recognised the benefits of involving their diaspora in political and economic spheres. Many Tanzanians living abroad are eager to reconnect with their homeland by investing in its economic and political ventures. 

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Their resources could stimulate a conducive environment for foreign investments, and their familiarity with local cultural nuances can drive the country’s progress forward. 

Several countries have reinstated dual citizenship with successive regimes, recognising the benefits of diaspora engagement in local economic, political, and social contexts. Even the newly formed South Sudan began by explicitly recognising dual citizenship. 

Such a policy could become a strategic standard for fostering robust relationships with former nationals. Despite dual citizenship’s inherent advantages and disadvantages, Tanzania must deliberate on granting this status to its nationals to acknowledge their contributions and empower them to impact the nation’s socio-political and economic conditions positively.

Dual citizenship has sparked both formal and informal debates in Tanzania, primarily due to the emerging recognition that Tanzanians who emigrate and obtain foreign citizenship still hold significant potential and motivation to drive their homeland’s political, social, and economic development. 

Russell Henderson, a British architect, is among those who are strongly attracted to Tanzania, but they must renounce their British citizenship in order to do something constructive in the East African nation.

Formidable force

The Tanzanian diaspora represents a formidable force equipped with resources, knowledge, and investment opportunities. There is a compelling case for Tanzanian Americans residing in the United States, Tanzanian-Europeans, and others globally dispersed. 

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Beyond their substantial financial resources, these individuals bring valuable knowledge and skills acquired through American and European education and continuous experiential learning, which is unavailable in Africa. 

This intellectual capital is an invaluable asset that could transform Tanzania into a leading nation on the African continent. The pertinent question remains: Can dual citizenship effectively mobilise the Tanzanian diaspora across various countries to contribute to improving their homeland and enhancing the quality of life for its citizens? The answer is likely to be a huge yes.

Tanzania should consider adopting dual citizenship to boost financial and knowledge investments. Successful examples include Kenya and Uganda locally and Mexico and Ghana internationally, which have effectively implemented dual citizenship programs. 

Dual citizenship aims to convert brain drain into brain gain, reintegrating former nationals into their native country’s economy, politics, and sociocultural spheres. 

While dual citizens in Tanzania may face restrictions such as exclusion from the Army or public service and may undergo a lengthy process to restore their national status, the benefits far outweigh the costs compared to the proposed special status that is limited in many ways. 

The privileges associated with citizenship offer significantly more value, ultimately translating into tangible benefits for Tanzanian society, including increased foreign direct investment and enhanced knowledge and political resources that can transform the nation.

Tanzania’s current challenge of boosting the inflow of goods, services, and investments while curbing brain drain necessitates amending existing laws to allow the Tanzanian diaspora to retain their citizenship upon acquiring foreign nationality/citizenship. 

This strategic move will undoubtedly empower the diaspora to contribute significantly to Tanzania’s socio-economic and political progress. Dual citizenship can catalyse increased investments and expedite the development of a knowledge-based economy in Tanzania.

Steve Williams is a seasoned freelance journalist specialising in diplomacy, geopolitics, and regional integration. He’s available at feedback@steve-writes.com. These are the writer’s own opinions and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of The Chanzo. Do you want to publish in this space? Contact our editors at editor@thechanzo.com for further clarification.