Parents prodded

GOVERNMENT has encouraged parents to ensure their children take advantage of the on-going mobile issuance of National Registration Card (NRC) being conducted in five provinces.

Home Affairs Permanent Secretary, Leah Mutale, said it was important that children obtained their national identity documents.

Dr Mutale said this in Kabompo when she addressed a group of residents that were lined-up to have their NRCs issued at INDECO and Kanaji Chilanda registration centres.

“It is your right to have your NRC, it is by law that you have it as the card identifies you as a Zambian. As a Zambian it will allow you to access certain privileges.

“So it is important that you encourage your children and everyone who is 16 years or over to come and obtain their NRC,” Dr Mutale said.

She said that the exercise was a Government programme which was a benefit to the citizens thus everybody who was eligible should be encouraged.

“The Government is working very hard to ensure all citizens who are eligible obtain the NRCs as we are currently in five provinces conducting the same exercise,” Dr Mutale said.

At the same event, North- Western Province Permanent Secretary, Willies Manjimela, said the mobile registration exercise should not be politicized as it was a routine Government programme.

“This programme should not be politicized as it is Government routine work for all, let us just work as a team and support the officers issuing the NRCs,” Mr Manjimela said.

Kabompo District Commissioner, Patrick Kasoka, said that the mobile issuance of NRCs was on track with minor challenges.

“The exercise commenced on August 9, 2020 with minor challenges such as some traditional leaders who are not gazetted but requested to have their names on the national document,” he said.

Mr Kasoka said the exercise has captured 355 male and 400 female since August 9, this year.

He explained that the registration had been moved to densely populated areas such as such Kabulamema, Mumbezhi and Kabompo town.

“We have now moved some of our officers to densely populated areas and have also engaged the Zambia News and Information Services to help with publicity on the exercise,” Mr Kasoka said. - ZANIS