RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP
Who is a citizen?
A citizen: Is a person who belongs to a particular country. Normally a citizen has full rights as a member of that country either by birth or by being granted such right. A citizen of a country is expected to beyond a patriotic to his or her country.
What is citizenship?
Citizenship: Is the condition of being recognized as citizen of particular community or country with the right and duties that go with such status. However citizenship Is the legal right of a person to belong to a particular country.
TYPES OF CITIZENSHIP
i. Citizenship by birth
ii. Citizenship by descent or kinship
ii. Citizenship by registration or naturalization.
iv. Citizenship by marriage/adoption.
1. Citizenship by birth: This is the type of citizenship where a person born in a country hence all his/her parents belong to that country. Every person who born in Tanzania is entitled to a birth certificate.
In Tanzania birth certificates are issued by the Registration Insolvency and Trusteeship Agency (RITA). The birth certificate show the important information of a person like place of birth, the sex and name of the child, the name of the father, mother and date of birth and country of birth of the child.
2. Citizenship by registration or naturalization : Is a type of citizenship where a person who born outside of Tanzania and one of her or his parents is a citizen of Tanzania. However after aged 18 such a person has to apply to the ministry of home affairs through immigration department.
Citizenship by registration is only grated to a person from commonwealth country and to any female applicant who is married to a Tanzanian man even if she does not belong to a commonwealth country. Commonwealth countries are those countries ruled by British during the colonial period like Tanzania, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, India, Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
3. Citizenship by descent or kinship: Is a type of citizenship which is applicable to a person who was born outside Tanzania but one of his/her parents is citizen of Tanzania. A person has to apply to the ministry of home affairs for confirmation of his or her citizenship.
4. Citizenship by marriage/adoption: Is a type of citizenship which is granted to a foreign woman who is married by a man who is a citizen of Tanzania. However she must make a near promising to be good citizen and to be loyal to the constitution of the united republic of Tanzania.
CONDITIONS NECESSARY FOR FOREIGNERS TO APPLY FOR TANZANIA CITIZENSHIP
The conditions that a foreigner is required to fulfill in order to be granted a Tanzania citizenship are:-
1. He/She must be a person of good behaviour.
2. He/She must be able to speak Kiswahili or English fluently.
3. He/She must renounce his/her former citizenship.
4. He/She must be 18 years old or above.
5. He/She must have lived legally in the country for at least 5 years.
6. One must make a promise to be a good citizen and to be loyal to the constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania.
IMPORTANCE OF CITIZENSHIP
1. It enable a person to use his or her legal rights in the country.
2. It allows a person to participate in civic activities such as voting.
3. It enable a person to enjoy service in the country.
4. It gives rights citizen participate in social, political and economic activities of the country.
5. It helps in providing clear demographic data through citizen registration.
6. It gives rights an individual person to be well recognized as the legal citizen in the country.
7. It enables a person to get passport or Visa.
9. It help a person to get employment opportunities in the country.
CONDITIONS WHICH CAN CAUSE A PERSON TO LOSE HIS/HER CITIZENSHIP
i. After the government sayisfy that a person obtained the certificate by means of fraud or false representation.
ii. The person has committed a crime such as treason, sabotage of fraud.
iii. The person denouces his or her Tanzanian citizenship.
iv. The person holds dual citizenship to another country.
v. The person has shown by act or speech to be disloyal to the united republic of Tanzania.
vi. The person has ordinary been resident in a foreign country for continuous period of five years.
IMPACTS OF LIVING IN A COUNTRY WITHOUT BEING A CITIZEN/ ILLIGAL CITIZENSHIP
1. A person will lack the freedom of movement.
2. A person will not allowed to participate in political matters like voting.
3. A person will lack the job opportunity.
4. A person will not have protection.
5. A person will not have freedom of expression.
6. A person will not have working freedom.
7. A person will not enjoying services of the country.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF CITIZENS
Responsibilities: Are the things a person has to perform as a rule. A citizen has to do certain things in the country in which he or she is a citizen.
A. PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Takes care of himself or herself.
2. Behaves in a civil or respectful manner.
3. Considers the rights and interest of others.
4. Accepts responsibility for his or her action.
5. Supports the family.
B. POLITICAL/CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Participate in the country civic affairs such as attending political meeting.
2. Take part in elections.
3. Take part in building and consolidating democracy.
4. To support in development of public policies.
5. To advocates favorable policies and legislation.
6. To acquire and use information in order to make good decision.
C. SPCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
1. To protect his or her country from its enemies
2. To promote fairness equality and social justice.
3. To respect the right of fellow citizen.
4. To obey the law of the country in order for everyone to live in peace and harmony.
D. ECONOMIC RESPONSIBILITIES
1. To pay taxes and other statutory payment to the government.
2. To do lawful productive work.
3. To participate in community development activities.
IMPORTANCE/ADVANTAGES OF CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIES
1. It reduces the rate of crimes.
2. It creates peace, harmony and love during political, social and economic activities.
3. It promotes respect to the people.
4. It improve living standard.
5. It enhance individual and national development.
6. It promotes national patriotism among the citizens.
7. It enhance human rights promotion and protection.
SPECIAL GROUP
Special groups: Are groups consisted people un usual problems that need special care or treatment in the societies. However special groups consisted of all people who facing or experiencing difficulties in their environment.
Special groups are groups with people who are disabled and disadvantaged due to their problems their need special attention or care(treatment).
TYPES OF SPECIAL GROUPS.
In our society (Tanzania in general) special groups include
i. Women
ii. Old people.
iii. The disabled people.
iv. Refugees.
v. Orphans.
vi. Street children
vii. HIVAIDS victims
1. THE WOMEN
The women group: This is a group with people is ignored in some communities.They are not given equal opportunities to participate in decision makes in their families or at high-level. In some community are not given leadership position. Normally in many cases girls were not allowed to go to school the women end up fall into forced marriage, early marriage, forced prostitution in ritualized wife's and being rapid.This group of people need support from the community and easing they enjoy their rights.
2. THE ELDERLY
The elderly group: is special group which consisted of old people. Usully they become less energetic and may not be able to work as well as young people. As result they cannot work effectively and earn their daily living. In addition, some disabilities such as poor eyesight and poor muscle control may be caused by old age. Elderly people therefore need special care.
3. THE DISABLED PEOPLE
The disabled geup: This group include speople with mental disabilities, those with hearing and speech difficulties, the blind and physical disturbance. People with disabilities are to be helped in performing different task in respect to their disabilities and needs.
4. THE REFUGEES
Refugees: Are people who flee their countries to go and settle in foreign countries because of insecurity in their home countries.
CAUSES OF REFUGEES
The following are some of the reason for their forced migration:-
i. Political conflict
ii. Civil war.
iii. Social conflict.
iv. Natural calamities like drought or famine. E.g Somalia.
v. Religious conflict. E.g Sudan, Nigeria, Somalia, etc.
vi. Economic problems.
5. STREET CHILDREN
Street children: This is a group of children who stay on the streets as they have no palace to live.
CAUSES OF STREET CHILDREN
Street children are can be caused by different factors like:-
i. poverty.
ii. Abuse by parents or guardian.
iii. Death of parents.
iv. Family separation/breakup.
v. Early marriages.
vi. Carelessness among parents/guardians.
However due to these reasons the children are forced to live on the street without parents o rguardians to take care for them .They may also engage themselves in labour and drug peddling.
6. HIV AIDS VICTIMS
HIV/AIDS victims: is the group of people who are infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The virus attack the white blood cell that protect the human body infection and disease.
STIGMATIZATION OF HIV/AIDS VICTIMS
i. Calling them bad names.
ii. Excluding them in decision making.
iii. Denying them food and other services.
iv. Isolating them on participating together.
v. Blaming them.
CAUSES OF SPECIAL GROUPS
1. Death of parents: This can led to the emergence of orphans.
2. Accidents: This can led to the emergence of disabilities
3. Diseases like HIV/AIDS and Covid 19: This also can led to emergence of special groups through death and orphans or victims.
4. Wars: This can led to the emergence of orphans through death, Refugees due insecurity and disabled people.
5. Natural calamities: These are such as floods, earthquakes, Tsunami and emergence of dangerous diseases can led to death of people which resulted in to death and refugees.
6. Age: Through age can led to the emergence of children old peole, hence special groups are inevitable.
7. Sex: Through sex can led to the emergence of wonen group which is usually need to be taken care and protected.
RESPONSIBLITIES OF CITIZEN TO THE SPECIAL GROUPS
1. Assisting these people by providing material and financial help.
2. Interacting with them a tho me and community meeting, and allowing them to express their opinion and feelings.
3. Showing them respect and understanding.
4. Providing education to all depending on their special needs.
5. Supporting them physically, for example when they are crossing roads.
6. Providing counseling and socialization.
GUIDING QUESTIONS
1. In six points explain the importance of being recognized as the legal citizen.
2. Outline five issues which can cause someone to lose his/her citizenship.
3. Briefly explain six problems which are likely to face someone who intered and live in a certain country illegally.
4. Outline five consequences of not recognized as legal citizenships
5. Mention five advantages of responsibilities of Tanzanian citizens.
