The government has issued more than 4 000 Identity Documents in Tsholotsho, Matabeleland North province during the recent special exercise by the Civil Registry Department.
The special exercise was targeted at the San community and those in Bikita who were affected by the floods in 2017 and 2019 respectively.
The San community has over the years faced a problem accessing Identification documents which has hindered them in getting key amenities like education.
Addressing reporters during a post Cabinet briefing in Harare on Tuesday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said:
The exercise sought to document citizens in Bikita District who were affected by Cyclone Idai in 2019, and those affected by the 2017 floods in Tsholotsho, including the Tjawo (San) community in the District.
The Bikita mobile registration programme commenced on 6 September 2021, and ended on 5 October 2021, while the Tsholotsho exercise ran from 13 September to 12 October 2021.
The services availed during the mobile registration exercises in the 2 districts covered birth, death and national identity registration.
She said in Bikita, 4 397 national identity documents were issued while in Tsholotsho, a total of 4 169 national identity documents were issued. Said Mutsvangwa:
In Tsholotsho, 3 542 initial birth registration for children under the age of 16 years were issued, 600 initial birth registration for persons above 16 years of age, 46 duplicate birth certificates were issued to children under 16 years of age, 625 duplicate birth certificates were issued to persons above the age of 16 years and 58 death certificates.
In Bikita, 3 112 initial birth registration for children under the age of 16 years were issued, 348 initial birth registration for persons above 16 years of age, 26 duplicate birth certificates were issued to children under 16 years of age, 522 duplicate birth certificates were issued to persons above the age of 16 years and 58 death certificates.