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 Annexure 7: Supplementary Witness Voices (Testimonies) CHAPTER THREE: CHALLENGES IN ACCESSING IDENTITY DOCUMENTS 3.1.1. Lack of knowledge on registration requirements for national documents “ My children do not have birth certificates, I failed to obtain them because a birth confirmation record and letter from the Councilor were required. I didn’t know that these were required on registration.” 39-year-old male witness, Hurungwe, Mashonaland West Province. “There is a knowledge gap on the requirement for registration of births to be done within 42 weeks. People lack knowledge on registration requirements for the different scenarios like hospital births and home births, letters from school and village heads as supporting evidence and requirement of fingerprints for those above 22 years”. 32- year-old Female Provincial Social Welfare Officer, Mashonaland East Province. 3.1.2. Procrastination and negligence by parents to register Children “My young sister’s children do not have birth certificates. They reside with my grandmother who is of ill health. My sister’s whereabouts are unknown. The children were just put on a bus from Gokwe. My grandmother tried to obtain birth certificates and failed. The children have different fathers. At Maboleni they require birth records but I do not know where the children were born.” 34-year-old female witness, Maboleni, Gweru District, Midlands Province. 3.1.3. Inconsistent information and multiple referrals from RG’s Office “In 2008, I wanted to obtain a passport and I was told that a plastic ID was needed. I went to Murombedzi were I acquired the ID and I was told that in the system it indicated that I was recorded as deceased. I was referred to Karoi office and Karoi referred me to Chidamoyo and I went back to Karoi. I went back to Karoi and they referred me back to Murombedzi. At Murombedzi they referred me to Chegutu and I was referred back to Karoi. Where I stay in Batanai to Karoi it costs $60 and it is expensive”. 38-year-old Male witness, Mashonaland West Province “I have a short birth certificate and I am failing to access a passport. I tried to acquire it in Gokwe but was referred to Gweru and I was informed in Gweru that the information can only be accessed in Harare.” 45-year-old female witness, Gokwe South, Midlands Province . 3.1.4 Negative Attitudes of some RG’s Officers “kuti ndiende kuya kwandakambodzingwa zvakafanana nekugara pasi saka ndakabva ndasiyana nazvo” – to go back to that place (RG office) where they sent me away, I might as well stay at home and leave it be. 53-year- old Female witness, Mutare Rural District Manicaland Province “When RG officers have several people, they need to attend to, they normally do not give full attention to other clients’ issues. They are dismissive without assisting you. At times they continuously refer a person from one office to the other”. male witness, Mutare Rural District, Manicaland Province. 3.1.5. Allegations of Corruption “At Seke District offices, the RG officers were accepting bribes in the form of goats and turkeys. I cannot afford to make those payments and my family will suffer . witness from Seke District, Mashonaland East Province “There was an error on my ID number. When I tried to correct it, I was asked for a fee of USD$25 in 2018 as consultation fee. These issues affect a lot of people in the community. The people that register us demand payments and some leave with trucks full of chickens during mobile registration”. male witness from Mutoko, Mashonaland East Province 83 83