MHA asked to ease NRC interrogations for 16yr olds

The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has appealed to the Ministry of Home Affairs to allow people above 16-years to obtain National Registration Cards without being subjected to intense interrogations.

FODEP Executive Director Macdonald Chipenzi says interrogating those above 16 before issuing them with NRCs can be intimidating which would in-turn discourage many of those seeking to obtain the national identity document.

Mr Chipenzi says if government wants as many people as possible to obtain NRCs so that they can eventually take part in the 2016 elections, there is need to be flexible and allow people to obtain the NRCs without difficulty.

Mr. Chipenzi notes that some people might not have had a chance to obtain the NRCs when they attained the age of 16, while others do not see the need of having an NRC but need to be encouraged by making the process as less complicated as possible.

But Ministry of Home Affairs Spokesperson Moses Suwali says it is not true that those above 16 years are being subjected to intense interrogations before being issued with NRCs.

Mr. Suwali says the procedure they are being subjected to is a normal scrutiny process that any person whether 16 years or above has to go through before being issued with the NRC.
He explains that an NRC is a very important document that cannot be issued anyhow.
Mr Suwali says there is a danger of people who are not eligible getting the NRCs if the right procedure is not followed.