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
3.2.7 Clerical Errors .............................................................................................................................. 21
3.2.8
Non-acceptance of Confirmation letters from Traditional Leaders ................................................ 22
3.2.9
Lack of Birth Confirmation Records ............................................................................................ 22
3.2.10
Cumbersome Process for Home Birth Registrations ................................................................... 23
3.2.11
Centralisation of National Documentation Services ..................................................................... 23
3.2.12
Centralisation of Services Critical in Facilitating Registration ....................................................... 25
3.2.13
Mobile Registration Challenges ................................................................................................. 25
3.2.14 Costs of Accessing Services and Payment Modalities. ................................................................ 26
3.2.15 Resource Constraints of the Department of the Registrar General ............................................... 27
3.3
SOCIAL AND CULTURAL BARRIERS ............................................................................................ 27
3.3.1 Demand for Lobola Payment ........................................................................................................ 28
3.3.2
Un-documented Mothers ............................................................................................................. 28
3.3.3
Religious Beliefs ........................................................................................................................ 28
3.3.4
Use of Maternal Surnames to Register Children .......................................................................... 29
3.3.5
Generational Challenges ........................................................................................................... 29
3.3.6 Migration and Unknown Whereabouts of Parents. ....................................................................... 30
3.3.7
Falsification of Documents and Registration Information. ............................................................ 30
3.3.8
Orphaned and Abandoned Children ........................................................................................... 31
3.4 LEGAL CHALLENGES........................................................................................................................ 31
CHAPTER 4: DOCUMENTATION AND SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS .......................................................... 33
4.0
Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 33
4.1
Children ......................................................................................................................................... 33
4.2
Orphans ......................................................................................................................................... 34
4.3
Women .......................................................................................................................................... 34
4.4
Intersex Persons............................................................................................................................. 35
4.5
Persons with Disabilities ................................................................................................................. 35
4.6
Minority Groups .............................................................................................................................. 36
4.7
Elderly Persons (60 years +) ........................................................................................................... 37
4.8
Foreign Nationals from the SADC Region ........................................................................................ 38
4.9
Prison Inmates ............................................................................................................................... 38
4.10
Gukurahundi-affected Communities................................................................................................. 39
4.11
Tongogara Refugees ...................................................................................................................... 39
4.12
Disaster-Affected Communities – Cyclone Idai................................................................................. 41
4.13
Border Communities ....................................................................................................................... 41
CHAPTER 5: THE IMPACT OF LACK OF DOCUMENTATION ON THE ENJOYMENT OF FUNDAMENTAL
HUMAN RIGHTS ............................................................................................................................................ 42
5.0
Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 42
5.1
Analysis of Human Rights Affected by Non-Documentation .............................................................. 44
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