News / National
'Aliens' with proper documentation can obtain ID cards instantly
13 Jun 2013 at 03:32hrs | Views
PEOPLE of foreign origin, commonly referred to as aliens, with proper documentation can obtain identification cards and instantly register as voters at all the mobile centres set up for voter registration purposes, an official from the Registrar General's Office has said.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of breaching protocol, said the proper documentation, which includes a birth certificate, should show that the particular alien was born in Zimbabwe.
"If one has a birth certificate it is easy to get a national identification card and instantly register as a voter. All the centres set up in all the districts have the facilities to offer what is needed for aliens and other people to register as long as documents are in place," the official said.
The official said it was impossible to immediately issue a national identification card to a person of foreign origin with no birth certificate at the mobile registration centres.
"In that case the alien cannot be issued with anything and he or she has to go back to the district offices because the Registrar General's Office has to interview him or her. You cannot just go to a registration centre and say that I was born in Zimbabwe without any proof or documentation," said the official.
"These are the cases which people are accusing our office of turning away people but we have an understanding that everything is going on smoothly at all the centres and those with proper documentation are being registered."
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of breaching protocol, said the proper documentation, which includes a birth certificate, should show that the particular alien was born in Zimbabwe.
"If one has a birth certificate it is easy to get a national identification card and instantly register as a voter. All the centres set up in all the districts have the facilities to offer what is needed for aliens and other people to register as long as documents are in place," the official said.
"In that case the alien cannot be issued with anything and he or she has to go back to the district offices because the Registrar General's Office has to interview him or her. You cannot just go to a registration centre and say that I was born in Zimbabwe without any proof or documentation," said the official.
"These are the cases which people are accusing our office of turning away people but we have an understanding that everything is going on smoothly at all the centres and those with proper documentation are being registered."
Source - herald
