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 3.2.8 Non-acceptance of Confirmation letters from Traditional Leaders Another challenge facing the public in some provinces was non-acceptance by the DRG’s office of traditional leaders’ letters in support of applications for registration. For instance, letters confirming residence or death. Traditional Leaders testified that they were cognisant of their obligation to be truthful and the mandate to assist their subjects in dealing with challenges relating to acquisition of national documents. They highlighted that such conduct by some officials at the DRG’s offices undermined their authority as custodians of communities as they are acquainted with information on events that occur in their communities. The DRG officials required additional evidence over and above the confirmation letters from traditional leaders and Councillors, because they claimed that some traditional leaders and Councillors gave false information. 3.2.9 “People come to us for assistance so that we author some documents to show that they were born in our communities. We do that because we know the relatives of that child and who their parents are and where they come from and their origin. It has come to our knowledge that most of the letters that we write are no longer assisting them. We are hoping this information, when taken to the offices, they should get assistance but if these people are not assisted it is as if I do not care about the people. This bothers us and the people no longer have trust in us.” Chief, Mangwe District, Matabeleland South Province. Lack of Birth Confirmation Records Two point two per cent (2.2%) out of the 38% of witnesses experiencing registration challenges indicated that hospitals were withholding birth confirmation records until they had settled outstanding hospital bills67 for services rendered to them. Replacement of birth confirmation records which were either lost or defaced was hindered by distances and costs of travel to the health centre where the child was born. Some witnesses testified that they failed to get birth confirmation records because the health institutions had run out of stationery. Since birth confirmation records are amongst the requirements for registration of births occurring in health institutions, lack of them prevented registration and had a huge bearing on further access and enjoyment of other rights. Image 7 Participation of Traditional Leaders in the NI process This practice has been banned by a policy directive from the MOHCC, but it was noted through evidence gathered that it was still continuing in some cases. 67 22 22