This report was written through desk research and the author’s previous experience of researching access to citizenship in the southern Africa region. It analyses the laws in force in the member states of the Southern
Africa Development Community, as well as implementing regulations where available, and other official policy statements. Among the sources are the Briefing paper for UNHCR Regional Conference on Statelessness in Southern Africa, held in Mbombela, South Africa 1-3 November 2011, prepared by the same author. The updated report draws on publications of intergovernmental agencies, as well as government and constitutionally established bodies at national level, including court decisions, and reports by non-governmental organisations. The regional and national offices of UNHCR supplied important information and commentary. The draft report was shared with the government focal points on statelessness in each country, with the assistance of the relevant UNHCR office, for their comment and feedback. This report is proposed as the foundation for further study of the risks of statelessness in each country, based on research in the field.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Citizenship and Statelessness in the Member States of the Southern African Development Community, report authored by Bronwen Manby, 2020.