LOSING MDC Gwanda South parliamentary candidate in the 2013 elections, Ekem Moyo, has appealed to legislators to push for the scrapping of a $10 fee required by the Registrar-General (RG)’s Office to search for lost identity documents.
BY NQOBANI NDLOVU
Moyo argued that the $10 search fees for lost IDs discriminated against the poor and the old, and denied them their right to access identity documents as Zimbabweans. The MDC official said the search fees should be scrapped in light of the high unemployment rate, adding that he saw no reason why the RG’s Office demanded the money.
“I went to the RG’s Office to search for a lost ID belonging to my daughter and was told that I would not have recourse unless I paid the $10 to search for the important document. They insisted on the money being paid even after telling them the person who lost the documents is unemployed,” Moyo said during a visit to the Southern Eye offices.
“It’s understandable if the $10 was for processing a new ID, but to demand that money just for looking for the document does not make sense. I do not blame the workers because they are just following instructions, but MPs should look at such things since the $10 search fees are just too steep for many and deprive them of their right to having an identity document,” he added.
A visit to the RG’s Office in Bulawayo proved that the government department does demand search fees citing statutory instrument 140 of 2009, section 11 of the National Registration Act chapter 10:17.
“Our legislators should look into this and have these fees scrapped to allow many to reclaim their lost IDs. In Gwanda South, most people do not have IDs because they cannot afford the services as they are not working since there are no jobs.
“If these fees cannot be scrapped, legislators should push for the social welfare department to assist people because it cannot be acceptable to have a situation where people do not have documents because they do not have money.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“It’s a right for every Zimbabwean to have such essential documents,” Moyo added.
