AVAP welcomes Govt decision to re-do Mobile National Registration

Anti Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) Executive Director Bonnie Tembo has welcomed the move by government to re- do Mobile National Registration in areas that were not fully covered.

Mr.Tembo commended government saying the move is long overdue as AVAP had also called on government to consider going back to areas where mobile issuance of NRCs was not properly done.

He explained that the exercise will also help to ensure that first time voters get NRCs ahead of 2011 elections.

Mr. Tembo, however, appealed to government to ensure that the exercise is carried out after rain season as at the moment the bridges in most parts of these areas have been washed away.

He noted that the third phase for Mobile National Registration should also be carried out in dry season to avoid wasting resources.

And Mr. Tembo has called on Ministry of Home Affairs to tell the nation on how many people got NRCs during the second phase.

He said according to AVAPs report, in the first phase 165 000 people in Eastern Province were recorded to have been issued NRCs, 85 000 in North – Western Province and 80 000 in Western Province.

In the second phase Northern Province overshot the target of 1000 by recording 176,417 people to have been issued NRCs, and 130 000 people from Eastern Province.

Mr. Tembo advised officers in charge of issuing NRCs to be accountable and ensure proper documentation for the nation to be well informed.

He also appealed to government to fund the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services (MIBS) to enable officers under Zambia News and Information Services to participate actively and effectively in informing people with developments that take place during the exercise.

Home Affairs Minister Lameck Mangani recently assured that officers from the National Registration Office will redo mobile national registration in areas that were not fully covered in the first and second phases.

ZANIS