Registry blitz issues 3 million documents
GOVERNMENT has issued more than three million identity documents such as birth and death certificates and IDs under its mobile registration exercise that officially ended last Friday.
The Civil Registry Department was on a national crusade to provide citizens with national documents, which are critical in the enjoyment of their rights.
The blitz started in April and ran until 30 September and during the period, the registry department had been operating every day including weekends and public holidays.
The outreach programme was partly prompted by the fact that during the height of Covid-19 pandemic, the department was not issuing national documents resulting in a backlog.
To ensure that members of the public access national documents, President Mnangagwa earlier this year instructed the registry department to relax conditions that were restricting some citizens from obtaining birth certificates, IDs and even death certificates for their loved ones.
Mostly, distance to the nearest registry office especially in rural areas as well as absence of birth records for children born outside the country, made it difficult to access birth certificates.
In an interview in Victoria Falls, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Mr Aaron Nhepera, said the exercise will not be extended unless if the final report shows a need.
“The ministry through the Civil Registry Department wishes to inform the nation that the national registration, which commenced on 1 April ended on 30 September,” he said.
Mr Nhepera said the exercise targeted to issue at least two million documents and as of 22 September 3 103 485 documents had been issued thereby surpassing the target.
There were 1 758 322 birth certificates, 1 300 573 national identity cards and 44 590 death certificates.
Mr Nhepera said the ministry will produce the final report after concluding the exercise.
“If there is need for another exercise, we will do exactly that but at the moment we are not thinking in terms of extending the exercise,” he said.
Members of the public are, however, advised that they can still acquire the documents at registry offices throughout the country.–@ ncubeleon