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Namatai Kwekweza to be issued with a new ID
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Zimbabwean authorities have invited pro-democracy campaigner Namatai Kwekweza to the Registrar-General's Office to collect her new national identity card after a contentious battle over the replacement of her defaced ID.
The development follows legal intervention by her lawyers, Tinashe Chinopfukutwa and Kelvin Kabaya from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR). The lawyers challenged an earlier refusal by the Civil Registry Department to replace Kwekweza's national ID, citing her inclusion on a controversial "Stop List."
On October 30, 2024, officials at the Civil Registry Department denied Kwekweza's request for a replacement ID, claiming she was barred from possessing one. The decision drew sharp criticism, with her legal team pointing out that the refusal violated her constitutional right to an identity document as a Zimbabwean citizen.
In a letter dated November 14, 2024, the lawyers demanded Registrar-General Henry Machiri reverse the decision within 48 hours, warning of legal action if their client's rights were not respected. They argued: Kwekweza's citizenship guarantees her access to a national identity card. Even convicted prisoners are entitled to ID cards under Zimbabwean law. Kwekweza had been acquitted of the charges that initially led to her inclusion on the "Stop List" in 2021, rendering the restriction baseless.
The lawyers also warned Machiri that he would personally bear litigation costs if the matter escalated to court.
On November 25, 2024, Assistant Registrar-General Ben Mpala responded on behalf of Machiri, inviting Kwekweza to collect her new ID. She was instructed to bring her original birth certificate, a copy of it, and proof of payment for the replacement fee.
The ZLHR welcomed the resolution but emphasized the importance of upholding citizens' constitutional rights without the need for legal intervention.
This case highlights persistent challenges in Zimbabwe's civil registry processes, where arbitrary decisions have often left citizens unable to access essential documents. For activists like Kwekweza, such battles underscore the intersection of political repression and administrative inefficiency in the country's governance.
Kwekweza's determination to assert her rights has drawn praise from pro-democracy groups, who view her case as a victory for ordinary citizens seeking fair treatment under the law.
The development follows legal intervention by her lawyers, Tinashe Chinopfukutwa and Kelvin Kabaya from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR). The lawyers challenged an earlier refusal by the Civil Registry Department to replace Kwekweza's national ID, citing her inclusion on a controversial "Stop List."
On October 30, 2024, officials at the Civil Registry Department denied Kwekweza's request for a replacement ID, claiming she was barred from possessing one. The decision drew sharp criticism, with her legal team pointing out that the refusal violated her constitutional right to an identity document as a Zimbabwean citizen.
In a letter dated November 14, 2024, the lawyers demanded Registrar-General Henry Machiri reverse the decision within 48 hours, warning of legal action if their client's rights were not respected. They argued: Kwekweza's citizenship guarantees her access to a national identity card. Even convicted prisoners are entitled to ID cards under Zimbabwean law. Kwekweza had been acquitted of the charges that initially led to her inclusion on the "Stop List" in 2021, rendering the restriction baseless.
On November 25, 2024, Assistant Registrar-General Ben Mpala responded on behalf of Machiri, inviting Kwekweza to collect her new ID. She was instructed to bring her original birth certificate, a copy of it, and proof of payment for the replacement fee.
The ZLHR welcomed the resolution but emphasized the importance of upholding citizens' constitutional rights without the need for legal intervention.
This case highlights persistent challenges in Zimbabwe's civil registry processes, where arbitrary decisions have often left citizens unable to access essential documents. For activists like Kwekweza, such battles underscore the intersection of political repression and administrative inefficiency in the country's governance.
Kwekweza's determination to assert her rights has drawn praise from pro-democracy groups, who view her case as a victory for ordinary citizens seeking fair treatment under the law.
Source - pindula
