N AT I O N A L I N Q U I R Y R E P O R T ZIMBABWE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION For Human Dignity  Many members of the community do not access death certificates. Elderly Persons (60years +)  Elderly persons who had identity documents but no birth certificates find it difficult to obtain birth certificates as one of the requirements was that they should present witnesses who are 10 years older than them. Most are not aware of process of self-registration.  Experience difficulties accessing registration due to challenges associated with old age such as loss of memory resulting in failure to remember birth details such as place of birth, date of birth and villages where they came from and their chiefs.  Bear the burden of looking after un-documented grandchildren left by their children  Are too frail to register their grandchildren  Lack finances to afford registration fees and transport costs to access DRG Offices. SADC Foreign Nationals  Are not aware that they qualify for registration of citizenship by birth if they were born before 2013 to one or both parents who were citizens of SADC countries. They therefore remain with their old identity cards with the restrictive alien status.  Are not aware that the fee for regularising their citizenship status is RTGS 40 as opposed to RTGS 5000.00.  Inconsistencies from the RG’s Office in dealing with issue of Alien IDs and citizenship, in some cases where one of the parents was a foreign national and another Zimbabwean, children were issued with Alien IDs contrary to the provisions of Section 36 of the Constitution. Prison Inmates  A large percentage do not have national identity documents and this prevents them from accessing rehabilitative opportunities such as education and vocational skills.  Inmates are unable to get supporting documents and witnesses required in the registration process.  Are at risk of not being granted bail if un-documented.  Not eligible for age related amnesties as there are no identity documents to prove their age.  ZPCS is constrained by resources such as fuel to ferry inmates to RG Offices.  Are not able to benefit from bilateral agreements for inter-state transfer of inmates to serve sentence in their country of origin due to lack of documentary proof of their nationality. Gukurahundi Affected Communities        Adverse effects of Gukurahundi on accessing national documents such as birth certificates and death certificates are still being experienced Many people lost national documents in Gukurahundi era and are unable to replace them. Failure to get death certificates in cases of missing persons who died in this era resulting in generations of un-documented persons. Failure to get death certificates prevents registration for birth certificates and consequently national identity cards. In cases where witnesses were required to support application of documentation, many are often scared to testify about the death of their relatives for fear of the unknown. Some Gukurahundi affected persons are reluctant to participate in mobile registration exercises as it reminds them of Gukurahundi events. Approximately 90% of those who experienced Gukurahundi are suffering from mental health impairments due to the trauma and cannot access documentation. xvi xv