Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
The Civil Registry Department, with support from UNICEF Zimbabwe, has intensified nationwide mobile registration exercises to ensure that citizens in remote communities can access vital identity documents.
The ongoing programme is targeting hard-to-reach areas where families often face significant barriers to civil registration, including long distances, difficult terrain and high travel costs.
Teams have already covered several parts of the country, engaging communities to understand the challenges affecting civil registration while preparing families for the outreach exercises.
The initiative is facilitating the issuance of birth certificates, death certificates, national identity documents and livestock brand certificates.
In a statement, the department said that from June 8 to 13, 2026, mobile registration services were rolled out across remote communities in Mangwe District, Matabeleland South Province.
“Birth certificates, death certificates, national identity documents and livestock brand certificates were issued in Khalanyoni, Tjedza, Maninji, Mabuledi, Bulu, Keme, Marula, Tshitshi and Empandeni, including Maninji, a border community near Botswana and South Africa.
“Together, we are ensuring that legal identity reaches every corner of Zimbabwe,” the department said.
The exercise follows a similar outreach conducted in May in Mutasa District, Manicaland Province, where authorities combined registration services with community engagement initiatives.
“For some families in remote communities, accessing birth registration services can mean travelling long distances, navigating difficult terrain and delaying opportunities for their children to access vital services. But in Mutasa District, civil registration services are being brought closer to the people,” the department said.
Ahead of the rollout, the Civil Registry Department, working with UNICEF Zimbabwe and the Department of Social Development, conducted awareness campaigns across communities to highlight the importance of birth registration and prepare families for the exercise.
Traditional leaders, religious leaders, caregivers, social workers and community members participated in the engagements, openly discussing the challenges affecting access to civil registration services.
The meetings also provided information on registration requirements, outreach dates and service points, while encouraging parents and guardians to take advantage of the programme.
“Every child deserves a legal identity. Every family deserves access to civil registration services. Through partnerships and community engagement, no one and no place should be left behind,” the department said.
The mobile registration drive builds on recent progress made by the department.
By November last year, it had processed 440 000 documents out of 456 000 applications submitted in 2025.
