NEW: Birth certificates, a passport to every child’s opportunities and protection

Theseus Shambare in MUTASA

TRADITIONAL LEADERS, child protection committees and development partners in Mutasa district have raised concern over the lack of proper documentation among Zimbabwean children.

Stakeholders have highlighted that if a large segment of the country’s population remains unregistered and excluded from accessing essential services and opportunities, national development could be hampered.

Mutasa district, a community largely dominated by apostolic sects, has many children who do not have proper documentation.

The community has been afflicted by rampant gender-based violence, child marriages and restricted access to healthcare.

“Without a birth certificate, children are effectively invisible to the State,” said Headman Sanyamandwe (Mr George Chidawanyika) in an interview with The Sunday Mail Online.

“This not only denies them access to education and healthcare but also hinders their social and economic inclusion, which is crucial for national development.”

The lack of birth certificates, he said, stifles Government’s efforts to track progress on key development indicators such as child mortality, school enrolment and poverty reduction.

“Accurate data on the population is essential for effective planning and resource allocation,” he said.

Mrs Winnie Nyatsanza, a community childcare worker, said birth certificates are fundamental documents.

“They provide children with legal identity and access to a wide range of essential services. Without them, we risk leaving behind a generation of marginalised and disadvantaged individuals,” she said.

In response, the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, in partnership with UNICEF and the Swedish International Development Agency, is rolling out initiatives to address this challenge, including mobile registration campaigns and community-based programmes to assist families in obtaining birth certificates.

“For many families, obtaining a birth certificate seemed like an impossible task,” said Mr Leonard Gohwa, another community childcare worker who is instrumental in the programme.

“Through this initiative, we have been able to break down those barriers, ensuring that every child gets the recognition they deserve.”

Mr Misheck Nyazika, another community childcare worker, highlighted the importance of community engagement.

“We work closely with families to explain why birth certificates matter,” he said.

“It is not just a piece of paper; it is a child’s passport to opportunities and protection.”