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Gibson Nyikadzino Features Correspondent
Joshua Bepe’s mind flees into the unknown territories of the world as he ponders how he will resolve a family situation affecting his nine-year old son at his home in Goromonzi’s ward two area.
A combination of lack of resources and knowledge on how to get the important puzzle piece to this conundrum haunts him daily with a persistent pursuit that has no remorse.
His nine-year-old son, now in Grade 3, has no birth certificate.
Rarely have bearers of these documents appreciate them for what they truly represent, a fundamental human right to a name.
Despite government’s calls that parents should get birth certificates for children at specified times after birth, Bepe appears to have entirely given up.
But in the twinkling of an eye, his hope is ignited at the arrival of two organisations that have decided to “do something to help the government”.
“I had given up on getting the birth certificate for my son Joshua (Jr) because I took it lightly that the document was not important until authorities at his school started asking for it,” said Bepe.
“At times as parents we lack knowledge on what is important for our kids and take everything for granted.”
Birth registration and acquiring national identity documents can save a child’s life forever.
The two legal documents give children, or even adults, access to health care, education, provides citizens or children with a national identity and citizenship.
Bepe’s circumstances provide a similar characteristic to that of Ms Evelyn Mukungunurwa whose 30- year old son had not acquired a national identity card.
She had lost her national identity card a long time ago, hence procrastinating getting a replacement affected her son, Tawanda, who missed a lot of opportunities.
Zimbabwe’s Constitution in Section 81 (1) (b) states that; “Every child, that is to say every boy and girl under the age of 18 years has the right to be given a name and family name.”
The arrival of the Global Village Charitable Trust (GVCT) and a non-governmental organisation Community Action Aid Zimbabwe (CAAZ) has changed the perceptions of people in wards two and four in Goromonzi district under Chief Chinamhora, but administered by sub-chief Gilbert Tendai Mungate, also known as headman Murape.
The two organisations say it is not ideal for people to expect government to do everything for them, “but ordinary citizens should also do something for the government” to help ensure development even with the little resources available.
A survey that was conducted by the GVCT in the Goromonzi district over the past two years exposed a gap that public voluntary organisation need to fill in aiding government achieve some of its goals.
Mr Carrington Mutanha, the GVCT managing director, says his organisation, which anchors its operations on poverty alleviation and children’s psychosocial support needs, is keen to help government effort in giving children the right to nationality.
“We have now started working with Makumbe District hospital in Goromonzi and clinics around to help women when they give birth with knowledge on what they should do to ensure they start facilitating child birth registration to get birth certificates,” he said.
“With this work we have approached relevant authorities so that we take our work outside Mashonaland East province to operate in Mashonaland West where they are allowed to operate in the seven districts.
“There is need for us as a people to help address other problems facing fellow citizens. It does not mean government has no structures to institutionalise this work, it has. What we are doing is help people who might be taking these things for granted through ignorance.”
Mr Mutanha highlights that in some families, children have failed to acquire birth certificates and national identity documents because their parents could not get the same.
It has had a domino-effect at family nuclei level has been a hereditary negative.
“We received immense support in Goromonzi from the leadership. In wards two and four our surveys showed that over 60 people on average had no birth certificates.
“The surveys showed us that we need to compliment government efforts because that has a bearing on the socio-economic status of any society,” added Mr Mutanha.
Sub-chief Mungate said though his community has challenges that people are facing in acquiring birth certificates and national identity cards as a result of ignorance, the work being conducted by GVCT has helped many.
“These people came to help people with information and at times resources to help, especially children, to get birth certificates,” said sub-chief Mungate.
The traditional leader said the show of character and transparency by organisations like GVCT is key in helping build blocks towards national development.
“We have some non-governmental organisation that have come into our areas under the pretext of helping people but have caused political problems trying to instigate people. But so far, people are being helped on how to acquire their documents which is good for the nation,” he added.
With the clock ticking towards by-elections this month and general elections set for next year, CAAZ country director, Mr Dennis Mudzinganyama, said as his organisation also complements GVCT, they have so far suspended the service of helping people to get national identity cards.
“On the issue of national identity documents ahead of 2023, we have resolved as an organisation to scale down our operations and only focus on helping children under the age of 14 to get birth certificates.
“We do not want to be caught in-between and appear like we are pushing for political goals and ends. It will also come a time when we will resolve to resume helping people get identity cards, for now we have closed that door, it will be reopened later,” said Mr Mudzinganyama.
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