GOVERNMENT has warned of punitive action against citizens aiding foreigners to obtain the National Registration Cards (NRCs) through fraudulent means.
Southern Province Minister Nathaniel Mubukwanu said any Zambian found aiding a foreigner to obtain the national identity card during on-going mobile issuance of NRCs would be prosecuted.
“It should be noted that, we have capable officers that can detect false presentations and arrest anyone that might want to use fraudulent means to obtain our national identity document,” he said.
The minister was speaking in Choma on Monday at the launch of phase-two of the mobile issuance of NRCs for Southern Province.
The NRCs are issued under National Registration Act Chapter 126 of the Laws of Zambia. Only persons who meet the registration criteria stipulated under the Act are eligible for registration.
Mr Mubukwanu urged youths who had attained 16 years and other citizens who have lost or in possession of damaged NRCs to acquire new national identity cards.
He called on officers undertaking the mobile registration exercise to work diligently in line with Government’s expectation of serving the people of Zambia.
“Any officers that might misconduct themselves during this national exercise, shall not only be withdrawn, but would be disciplined in accordance with the regulations,” he said.
He cautioned opposition leaders and other stakeholders against politicising the issuance of NRCs during the 90 days of the exercise being undertaken in the four provinces namely Southern, Lusaka, Eastern and Western.
Speaking at the same occasion, United Party for National Development (UPND) Choma Central Member of Parliament Cornelius Mweetwa urged residents to utilise the exercise to obtain the NRCs.
He hailed President Edgar Lungu for his recent directive to all parliamentarians to sensitise people in their constituencies to obtain NRCs.
Don’t just warn, tell your immigration to go on the ground to take action against those forging NRCs and those helping them do so. Instead the immigration is just out there to harass innocent citizens.
Corrupt immigration only harrassing poor black Africans while we have Indians who can’t even speak Zambian or English flashing NRC’s and passports.
Zambia seems to be the only country where there is an acute lack of patriotism. Foreigners get NRCs freely and flood the country.If you go to the Eastern Province, Mozambicans are automatically Zambians.They hav NRCs which village headman and chiefs have helped them obtain. Village headmen have kept those who had run away from from wars and did not want to go back thereafter. Village headmen want bigger villages and so encourage these people to stay. Mozambicans go to clinics and hospitals and access services like citizens. Go to Petauke and you will think there is no boundary between the two countries. This does not happen in Botswana or Namibiaa. Is it because we are extremely corrupt?
Mobile NRC is not transparent we have officers in rural areas who knows which ones are foreigners but you decide to send officers from Lusaka to come and do the exercise for us in rural areas. We accept to work in rural areas coz we’re patriotic but when there are projects involving money u send greedy officers from Lusaka to come do our jobs, this is not inspiring.
Somalis are everywhere in Zambia. That is after failing to live together in their country. If you are in Botswana as a foreigner, you should expect to be stopped and asked to produce you id on the basis of your foreign appearance. Does that ever happen in Zambia?