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 CHAPTER 8: CONCLUSION 8.0 Introduction The National Inquiry established that a significant number of the population was un-documented due to a number of challenges that hindered them from accessing documentation. The Inquiry also made the finding that nondocumentation has adverse effects on the enjoyment of fundamental human rights and freedoms. The proposed recommendations as outlined in Chapter 8 are aimed at addressing barriers to documentation so that people can enjoy these rights. Despite the challenges of accessing documentation, the ZHRC noted some good practices and developments in the DRG that have been adopted to address some of the documentation challenges as noted below. 8.1 Good Practices in the Department of the Registrar General and Developments related to Access to Documentation Since the launch of the National Inquiry in 2019, various developments and good practices in the DRG relating to national documentation were noted. These partly addressed some challenges faced by people in accessing documentation. The DRG response to assisting Cyclone Idai victims to replace their lost documents was commendable. Mobile registration programmes were carried out in Chipinge and Chimanimani between September and December 2019. Nearly fifty thousand (50000) documents including birth certificates, national identity cards and death certificates that were swept away in the Cyclone were replaced. Those people who had never been registered before were able to apply and were issued with identity documentation. It was also learnt that the DRG had started conducting mobile registration programmes on a regular basis to provide services to communities, as opposed to the past whereby these were only held during the run-up time to elections144. If mobile registration is carried out consistently, numbers of un-documented people will be reduced. Further, the ZHRC was informed of the DRG strategy to increase birth registration in Bulawayo Province where the Office collaborates with FBOs, local community leaders and structures to compile their own population registers and submit to the DRG145. These registers are then used by the DRG to issue birth certificates and national identity documents. This strategy, if up scaled and replicated in other provinces, will have a positive impact on access to documentation. The ZHRC also observed that Provincial Registrars possessed sound knowledge and understanding on challenges affecting access to documentation in their Provinces and their ability to proffer possible durable solutions matching the challenges was commendable. If harnessed, this knowledge can contribute to the building of an effective strategy for reform in civic registration and address barriers faced by people in accessing documentation. Also noted were instances where the DRG Staff used internal referral system on registration, that is, where different officers informally solved issues pertaining to registration instead of referring the client to go to the issuing offices. There is, therefore, need to scale up and strengthen this internal referral system which eases the burden of registration on clients who have to access these offices at their own cost. A new development that the ZHRC was informed about was the commencement of Customer Care Courses for DRG staff146, to address the issue of quality service delivery to the public. This training will potentially address the problem of negative attitudes of some DRG Staff that was highlighted by people as a barrier to accessing identity documentation. Furthermore, an amendment bill to the Citizenship Act, namely, the Zimbabwean Citizenship Bill,147 was reportedly approved by Cabinet148. Among other things the Bill establishes the Citizenship and Immigration Board thereby taking the granting and revocation of citizenship by registration out of the sole control of the DRG149 and aligning the Act to the Constitution on the issue of dual citizenship. Through submissions by Provincial RGs (Harare, Mashonaland West and Manicaland Provinces.) For example, groups such as Killarney Squatter camp, Gospel of God Church in Entumbane and Johane Marange. 146 This information was supplied by the DRG at a Meeting held with the Minister for Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage on 20 January 2020. 147 Available at Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs website on http://www.justice.gov.zw/imt/wpcontent/uploads/2018/06/Zimbabwean-Citizenship-Bill.pdf as at 17 February 2020. 148 Zimbabwe: Cabinet Okays Citizenship Law Amendments to Bring Dual Citizenship, 27 February 2019 NewZimbabwe.com available at https://allafrica.com/stories/201902270121.html as at 17 February 2020. 149 This would address the issue of broad RG Mandate as outlined in Chapter 6 on Analysis of Findings, Legal Analysis section. 144 145 64 64