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Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Correspondent
CIVIL servants working at the Registrar General’s Office have been slammed for being unfriendly to citizens making it difficult for people to acquire important documents.
The Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Nomthandazo Eunice Moyo and Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Obedingwa Mguni said the conduct of civil servants at the registry offices was uncalled for as their sole duty is to assist residents.
Minister Moyo was speaking in her office at Mhlahlandlela Government Complex after Deputy Minister Mguni paid her a courtesy call before proceeding to meet Bulawayo residents in Cowdray Park, Nkulumane, Pumula South and Lobengula.
The meetings with residents were organised by MPs for the respective constituencies after realising that residents were struggling to access birth certificates, especially for children under their guardianship.
The provincial minister said the workers at the Registrar General’s Office never explained to people what they are expected to do when they are seeking birth certificates.
She said she had a hellish experience while trying to acquire a birth certificate for her grandchild who was born in South Africa following the death of her daughter.
“It was hell because I didn’t know the requirements. Now that you’re explaining and this is what our people lack.
“Our people lack knowledge. Some are educated but they don’t know the procedures like I was blank until I got the cases I’m talking about,” she said.
Minister Moyo said staff the Registrar General’s Office should not behave as if they were machines when working with members of the public.
“Some are too much of machine type workers. They don’t explain to people. They don’t assist people. I thought civil servants were meant to be in offices to assist people. Not to just say hayi hayi hambe dinga uyise lonina. Omunye uyaze akutshele ukuthi asondaba yami ukuthi kalababa lomamawakhe (No, no, go find his/her father or mother. Some even go to the extent of saying they don’t care if the child doesn’t have a father or mother). Yet it’s very rude,” said Minister Moyo.
She said she understood that civil servants might be going through personal problems but they should not vent their frustrations on members of the public.
“I know that they are overwhelmed with work. Sometimes when the job becomes too much, we become frustrated. Sometimes we carry our personal problems to work. But I will urge (Jane) Peters (Bulawayo provincial registrar) that employees should change their reception of people. We will encourage her to talk with her staff so that they improve on how they attend to the country’s citizens,” she said.
Minister Moyo said the registry officers should be reminded that the children whose guardians are seeking birth certificates are the country’s future human capital.
“They should know that the child must be educated for Zimbabwe. They’re learning for Zimbabwe not their grandmothers. That child is an asset for Zimbabwe and that child must be assisted as much as possible,” she said.
Deputy Minister Mguni whose ministry supervises the Registrar-General’s Office said he was aware of the complaints being lodged against the office.
He said the staff should change their attitude and improve their public relations.
“I’m encouraging them to build up their client service. They should welcome the people and build a correct client service,” he said.
Online Reporter