Zimpapers Logo

Harare Bureau
The Registrar General’s Office has issued identity cards to more than 22 800 people since the department rolled out a national mobile registration exercise on September 4, the department said yesterday.

Of the 22 837 initial national identity cards issued, 12 330 were given to those between 16 and 17 years while 10 507 went to those with 18 years and above.

At least 55 081 people made initial applications for birth certificates while 52 464 birth certificates were issued out.

The statistics, covering the country’s 10 provinces, are for the period September 4 to September 15.

This comes as the RG’s office yesterday said it had not yet received written instruction from Treasury to waive charges on national identity documents, birth and death certificates.

The department is carrying out a registration blitz of national identity cards, births and deaths certificates in preparations for next year’s harmonised elections.

“The Registrar General’s Office did not and has not yet received written instructions from Treasury to enable it to waive the charges on national identity documents, birth and death certificates,” the department said.

“Fees for these registrations are also controlled statutory instruments which are still operational.”

Home Affairs Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo last week said Government had waived all charges required to acquire civil documents during the 90-day registration blitz by the RG’s office.

This, he said, was meant to allow more people to get the documents ahead of next year’s general elections.

The RG’s office has been charging $10 to replace national identity cards and $5 for lost birth certificates.

Initial documents are obtained free of charge if acquired within stipulated timeframes.

The blitz will end on November 30.

Statistics show that 3 225 people countrywide had taken advantage of the mobile units to either replace national identity cards or make changes on the document.

At least 8 231 people who had green copies had them replaced by acquiring polythene-synthetic identity cards which have enhanced security features.

About 2 133 had made initial applications for death certificates while the department issued 1 745 death certificates as of last Friday.

Metal identity cards are also being replaced during the exercise and the RG’s office urging holders of such documents to change to polythene-synthetic identity cards.

Contrary to misconceptions by opposition parties and private media, metal identity cards remain valid and authentic.

The RG’s office said if the metal identity cards were to become invalid, the department would issue a statutory instrument to that effect.