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   Home birth registrations, and New developments and changes in legal and administrative issues in documentation. There was limited dissemination of information that women could register their children in their maiden names where the father was unable or unwilling to register a child born out of wedlock. It was further established that sometimes the information given by the DRG’s offices was insufficient or limited and the absence of clear or sufficient detail led to people having to make numerous trips to and from the DRG’s offices resulting in some members of the public being demotivated and abandoning their efforts to acquire national documents. It was also noted that awareness raising, information dissemination and outreach programmes to publicise the legal requirements for acquisition of national documents50 were not being prioritised by the DRG’s office. 3.2.2 Procrastination and Negligence by Parents to Register Children Procrastination by parents to register births was a key factor in failure to access “In simple terms, the earlier the birth registration, the less documentation, especially with regard to the requirements and the later the birth registration, the birth certificates. The evidence received more the requirements. Most cases that are turned away established that some parents despite are those involving late registrations.” District Registrar being aware of the importance to register for Gweru, Midlands Province. children and being in possession of all the requisite requirements for registration, procrastinated or neglected to register their children until the need to register was triggered by events such as school enrolment or registration for public examinations. Some of the reasons for procrastination included nonprioritisation, distance to registration centres and costs for registering children. Due to procrastination, unforeseen events affecting parents such as separation, migration, divorce or death of one or both parents kicked in before children were registered. Other factors that worsened the situation caused by procrastination of registration included unavailability of witnesses and loss or destruction of parent’s documents. Registration of children, therefore, became more difficult over time. Further, delays in naming of newly born babies resulted in mothers being discharged from health institutions before birth certificates were issued, even in cases where the DRG Officials were stationed at health institutions. Late registration was noted as a rampant problem as less than 5% of all births were registered within forty-two (42) days of birth51. This finding was confirmed by the testimony of the District Registrar for Gweru who said that “...the earlier the birth registration, the less the requirements and the later the birth registration, the more the requirements” and that most cases that are turned away are those involving late registrations. 3.2.3 Inconsistent Information from Department of the Registrar General One-point 5 percent (1.5%) of the 38% people who reported registration challenges indicated that such challenges were a result of inconsistencies emanating from the DRG’s office. Inconsistencies were noted regarding the registration requirements and procedures for the acquisition of birth certificates and identity cards for a child whose parents’ whereabouts were unknown52; number of witnesses required for specific documents; replacement of short birth certificates with long birth certificates,53 and fees payable for registration54. Similarly, inconsistencies were also noted in the requirements for self-registration55 where in some provinces a person aged forty-five (45) years 50 The DRG’s office stated that they relied on events such as Agricultural shows, Zimbabwe International Trade Fare and partnering with organisations which invited them when carrying out community programmes to disseminate information, for example, one witness from Mwenezi East highlighted that people from that area only get to know about birth registration when such information is shared by Community Care Workers. 51 Submissions by Provincial Registrars of Mashonaland Central and West Provinces. 52 The Provincial Registrar for Matabeleland North Province in particular requested for submission of a police report indicating that they had investigated the whereabouts of the missing person. Whereas Provinces such as Matabeleland South and Manicaland requested an affidavit and a Traditional Leader to stand in as informant indicating that the person(s) whereabouts were unknown. In Mashonaland West, the Provincial RG stated that such cases would be referred to the Department of Social Welfare to come up with a sociological report, stating that whereabouts of the parents were unknown. 53 Some were told they had to go DRG Offices where the documents had been issued; others were told that the document could be replaced at any office after verification was carried out. 54 As above. 55 In terms of the DRG Draft Procedure Manual for Births and Deaths, self-registration is “birth registrations for persons that are 45 years and above. Applicants are required to produce an ID card, a baptism certificate where 18 18