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 Incidences were highlighted where people who are forty-five years and above obtained identity cards without a birth certificate. This was done during the blitz registration process conducted prior to elections. Further challenges arose when people wanted to acquire birth certificates, which required that they restart the process because their registration details would not have been electronically captured rendering the identity cards invalid. As a result, some people who once possessed identity cards then failed to satisfy registration requirements and regressed to become un-documented. Furthermore, there is a problem of double allocation of national identity numbers issued during the mobile “I am failing to obtain a birth certificate for registration programme. Those issued with an already my child. I have a waiting pass which I existing national identity number by the DRG’s office bear acquired in Macheke at a mobile the brunt of rectifying the error. In some instances, they registration. The ID number on the were told to reapply at their own expense. These cards photograph is not clear. The RGs office issued under the mobile registration programme are indicated that my ID is not computerized manual (handwritten) and computerisation was done at the hence it is not in the system…” 28-year old instance of the applicant who has to approach the DRG for female witness, Highfield, Harare a computerised document. Witnesses stated78 that copies Metropolitan Province. of documents processed under the mobile registration programme were sent to the Central Records at the Central Registry Head Office for storage and not for computerization. Consequently, manual (handwritten) national identity documents are not captured in the Zimbabwe Civil Registration System, often resulting in people having to reapply. It was also highlighted that the facilities and equipment for mobile registration exercises were inadequate for instance poor quality pictures were captured79 for identity cards. Evidence further established that the DRG office beefs up staff for mobile registration by including staff from other line Ministries to assist in mobile exercises. This compromises services rendered since the seconded personnel were not qualified to do the work. 3.2.14 Costs of Accessing Services and Payment Modalities. Out of sixteen point six per cent (16.6%) of people who cited economic challenges as a barrier to accessing documents, four point four per cent (4.4%) indicated that they could not afford administration fees (such as search fees and passport fees, which they indicated were unaffordable) and one point five per cent (1.5%) could not afford the cost of transporting witnesses required for processing the documents. Those applicants seeking to acquire citizenship highlighted that they could not afford the citizenship fee of RTGS$5,000.0080. The ZHRC also gathered that the DRG’s non-acceptance of mobile payment options81 for administration fees put the general public at a disadvantage considering that it is the most accessible among official payment methods in the country. Witnesses highlighted that for them to withdraw cash, they would have to part with up to 60% of the amount because of fees charged by mobile money agents, hence the need for accommodative and different options for the majority of Zimbabweans. By the Provincial RG for Harare during public hearings. Case for Harare Met province 80 See Department of the Registrar General http://www.rg.gov.zw/index.php/services/zimbabwean-citizenship 81 such as Ecocash 78 79 26 26 Website on prescribed fees