But the problem is that most of them are still encountering a myriad of problems in their attempts to acquire personal identity documents and passports. Bureaucracy, corruption and incompetence at the Registrar General’s offices countrywide is frustrating them.
They are being shunted from one office to another and made to wait in the same queues as those who already have their citizenship. In some cases, they are attended to by officials who are arrogant and impatient as well insensitive to their special needs. In effect, it is taking far too long for the so-called aliens to obtain a simple thing like a birth certificate – but they need this to get national identity cards, not to mention passports and registering as voters or even inspecting the voters’ roll to ascertain the correctness of details captured.
Because of this frustration, there is a high likelihood that thousands of people of migrant origin might fail to register in time for the election. We therefore call on the RG’s office, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, political parties and other stakeholders to convene a collaborative workshop as soon as possible to discuss how best to expedite the registration of migrant citizens.
It is clear that this section of the population needs special attention. For example, special queues need to be created for them. In addition, RG and ZEC officers ought to undergo training on how best to attend to migrant citizens.
Time is not our side, but it is not too late. Migrant citizens have the same rights as others citizens. We need to treat their case with the sensitivity that it requires to ensure that their status is fully restored and they are once again enfranchised.
Post published in: Editor: Wilf Mbanga