TATENDA CHIKARA IN MASVINGO
Thousands of villagers in Chivi district in Masvingo Province are facing serious problems in obtaining identity documents (IDs) owing to the malfunctioning of the processing machines, Business Times can report.
The failure to obtain birth certificates and national identity cards, has disfranchised families in Chivi as they cannot participate in democratic processes or get employed.
“I wish that my wife gets an ID, this will help me get birth certificates and IDs for my children so that they can also register to vote and also manage to get jobs,” a villager from Ward 12 in Mautsi village, Stephan Masvimbo, told Business Times.
Another villager from the same village Tendai Ruzvidzo urged the government to intervene so that every child and parent who did not have identity documents could get them easily.
“Many parents here do not have identity documents, so this is making many children unable to access IDs because when they get to the registrar’s office they are told they should bring both parents IDs so that they can be assisted, this is a problem. I urge the government to assist these people,” Ruzvidzo said.
A woman from Chivi growth point who declined to be named said that in this Covid 19 era the government should establish registration centres in every ward and village so that every citizen can get identity documents.
“…Since we are heading towards elections, a person without an ID cannot register to vote which is a problem,” the woman said.
A 25 year old man, Believe Masvimbo related his ordeal to Business Times: “I have not voted since I do not have an ID and this is because my mother has not managed to get the same. I have gone several times to the registrar’s office but I’m always told to bring my father’s and mother’s IDs which is a challenge.”
The District Development Coordinator for Chivi Innocent Matingwina said the machine that processes IDs has not been working and hence the backlog.
“…I will talk to the secretary in the registrars department to look into the matter,” Matingwina said.
