Minister of Home Affairs has emphasized that the mobile issuance of National Registration Cards (NRCs) is not a political undertaking but a legal requirement.
Speaking at a media briefing, Stephen Kampyongo said National Registration Act Cap 126 of the laws of Zambia, mandates the Ministry of Home Affairs through the department of National Registration, Passports, and Citizenship to register and issue NRCs to all eligible citizens.
Mr. Kampyongo said his Ministry has already provided guidance on the matter, adding that he is aware that some members of the public are going round registration centers claiming to be monitoring the exercise.
He has warned that those who have appointed themselves as monitors of the NRC exercise are doing so at their own peril as the police will not hesitate to effect arrests on anyone disturbing the process.
“I would like to clarify further that it is important for the citizens to note that the issuance of the national registration cards is not a political undertaking but a legal requirement according to the National Registration Act Cap 126 of the laws of Zambia that mandates the Ministry of Home Affairs through the department of National Registration, Passports, and Citizenship to register and issue NRCs to all eligible persons aged 16 years and above.”
“We don’t see people coming to our national registration offices here in Lusaka or at the BOMA to go and sit and say we are monitoring. This is the mandate that is there on a daily basis, so there is nothing that is changing its just like moving the office like it has operated to take it into the field. So where does this notion of people wanting to go and monitor and sit, that won’t be tolerated,” Mr. Kampyongo said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kampyongo assured that immigration officers who are dotted around registration centers will ensure that no foreign nationals take advantage of the exercise by acquiring the national identity cards.
“If the officers that are doing the work identify that there is a foreign national who wants to take advantage, that’s why we have attached Immigration Officers there to deal with such circumstances. The Police officers who are attached to these teams are responsible for ensuring that the equipment that these teams are using on the ground is protected and officers that we have sent on the ground, are also protected,” he stated.
Phase one of the Mobile issuance of National Registration Cards (NRCs) was flagged off on 1st August, 2020 in Mwense district of Luapula province and it will cover Copperbelt, Luapula, Northern, North-western and Eastern provinces.
The second phase which will be launched on 1st September, 2020 will cover Western, Southern, Muchinga, Central and Lusaka Provinces.