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Responsible Citizenship

RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP

RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP

1. Who is a citizen?

A citizen is a lawful member of a particular country.

OR

A citizen is a person who belongs to a particular country.

2. What is citizenship?

Citizenship is a state of being a citizen of a particular country.

3. Who is a responsible citizen?

A responsible citizen is who knows his/her rights and responsibilities.

TYPES OF CITIZENSHIP

In Tanzania, there are main three types of citizenship namely:-

(i) Citizenship by birth

(ii) Citizenship by naturalisation.

(iii) Citizenship by descent.

I. CITIZENSHIP BY BIRTH

Citizenship by birth is a type of citizenship whereby a person gains citizenship by being born in a country where both parents are citizens of that country.

– It is also called natural citizenship. For instance, many Tanzanians are citizens by birth.

II. CITIZENSHIP BY NATURALISATION

Is a type of citizenship whereby a non-citizen person gains citizenship by applying to the minister responsible for citizenship.

– It is also called citizenship by registration.

III. CITIZENSHIP BY DESCENT

Is a type of citizenship where a person with Tanzanian ancestry gains citizenship when one or both parents are natural citizens of the country.

For instance let’s assume that A whose parents are Tanzanians was born in the UK. He may apply for Tanzanian citizenship upon reaching 21 years old. He will then gain citizenship by descent since his parents are of Tanzanian origin.
– It is also called citizenship by kinship.

CONDITIONS FOR A PERSON TO GAIN CITIZENSHIP BY NATURALISATION

Some of the conditions are:-

(i) A person must have resided in the United Republic throughout the period of twelve months before the date of application.

(ii) s/he must have an adequate knowledge of Kiswahili and English.

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(iii) s/he should intend to reside permanently in the United Republic if naturalised.

(iv) s/he must be of good character.

(v) s/he should have contributed to economic , technological advancement and national social welfare to become a suitable citizen of the United Republic.

CONDITIONS TO GAIN CITIZENSHIP BY DESCENT

A foreign citizen of Tanzanian ancestry may gain citizenship under the following requirements:-

(i) They are at the age of 21 and above.

(ii) They can prove that they are of Tanzanian ancestry.

(iii) They are willing to renounce their foreign citizenship.

IMPORTANCE OF CITIZENSHIP

(i) It is a legal way of been recognised as a citizen of a country.

(ii) Citizens can get basic rights when they belong to a country.

(iii) Citizens enjoy protection in their country.

(iv) It helps people to participate in making decisions in the country. e.g. by voting.

(v) A country gets revenue from its citizens through tax paid by them.

(vi) A country receives loyalty from its people/citizens.

LOSS OF CITIZENSHIP IN TANZANIA

In Tanzania one can lose citizenship on the following major grounds:-

(i) If a Tanzanian citizen holds dual citizenship.

(ii) If s/he denounces his/her citizenship.

(iii) If s/he obtained citizenship by fraud.

CITIZENSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Responsibility is a situation of having a duty

2. Citizens responsibilities can be grouped into:-

(i) Political responsibilities

(ii) Social responsibilities

(iii) Economic responsibilities

I. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

(i) To attend political and community meetings.

(ii) To register for local and national elections.

(iii) To vote in local and national elections.

(iv) To contest for leadership positions.

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(v) To watch and give opinion on any governance process.

II. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

(i) To prevent and report crime.

(ii) To protect public property.

(iii) To help disabled people.

(iv) To respect the laws of the country.

(v) To respect others peoples’ rights.

III. ECONOMIC RESPONSIBILITIES

(i) To pay tax and duties.

(ii) To involve in lawful productive work.

(iii) To participate actively in community development activities.

RESPONSIBILITIES TO SPECIAL GROUPS

Special groups are groups of people with unusual problems hence they need special attention from able-bodied people.

OR, Are groups of people who are neglected, oppressed as disadvantaged in our society. They cannot perform their responsibilities, hence they need special assistance from other members of society.

Examples of special groups include;

(i) The disabled

(ii) Orphans

(iii) Street children

(iv) Elderly people

(v) Children

(vi) Women

(vii) HIV/AIDS victims

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CITIZENS TO THE DISABLED

(i) Citizens should not discriminate the disabled in school, work place, home etc

(ii) Citizens should assist them to get basic needs.

(iii) Citizens should encourage them to consider themselves as normal citizens.

(iv) Citizens should help them to form their own associations to fight for their rights.

(v) Citizens should not isolate them.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CITIZENS TO REFUGEES

A refugee is a person who flees his/her country due serious political or social problems like civil wars and natural disasters.

The citizens should;

(i) Give them basic needs.

(ii) Give them the basic social services like water and medical care.

(iii) Prevent them from destroying environment.

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(iv) Ask them to avoid unlawful acts like robbery, smuggling, killing etc.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CITIZENS TO HIV AID VICTIMS

(i) To advice and help the victims to attend counseling centres regularly.

(ii) Not to isolate them (stigmatisation).

(iii) To show them love and care.

(iv) To visit them in order to reduce their loneliness.

(v) To support them financially.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF CITIZENS TO THE ELDERLY PEOPLE

(i) To help them to get the right diet.

(ii) To give them comfortable clothing and bedding.

(iii) To assist them to exercise in order to become physically fit.

(iv) To show them love and care.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF CITIZENS TO ORPHANS

Orphans are parentless children under 18 years old.

(i) To give them basic needs.

(ii) To show them love.

(iii) To provide them with important services like healthcare and education.

(iv) To try to adopt them when one is able to do so.

RESPONSIBILITIES TO STREET CHILDREN

Responsible Citizenship

Street children are homeless children who are below 18 years old.

Why street children?

(I) Family conflicts.

(i) Poverty (lack of basic needs ).

(ii) Civil wars.

(iii) Peer groups.

(iv) Death of parents.

Problems faced by street children include

(I) Hunger.

(II) Diseases.

(III) Humiliation (raping and insults).

(IV) Rejection and isolation.

(V) Child labour.

(VI) Deaths.

Responsibilities of Citizen to Street Children

(i) To show them love and hospitality

(ii) To give them basic needs

(iii) To give them parental care

(iv) To give them moral education

(v) To form organisation in order to support them

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