MPs quiz minister over IDs processing
Members of Parliament yesterday took turns to quiz the Minister of Homeland Security Ken Zikhale Ng’oma on the status of national identity (IDs) cards processing as the country is heading towards the 2025 General Elections.
The minister assured the legislators that the ministry has procured a brand new middle duty printer which can print up to 1 200 cards a day, thereby improving the capacity of the National Registration Bureau (NRB).
Said Ng’oma: “There is a backlog of unprinted IDs due to inadequate printing machines, but the situation will improve now because we have procured a middle duty printer and we are repairing malfunctioning printers so our capacity will improve.”
The issue was started by Thyolo South West legislator Chimwemwe Chipungu (Democratic Progressive Party-DPP)who demanded an update on the status of ID registration and renewal of expired IDs and those who lost their cards due to Cyclone Freddy.
He also inquired about the status of mass child registration which the minister pronounced early this year that the government with the help of its partners will embark on registering children across the country.
In a supplementary the question, Thyolo Central MP Ben Phiri (DPP) asked the minister to consider introducing a communication channel through which ID applicants can be notified when their IDs are out.
In response, Ng’oma said the suggestions will be considered during a functional review soon.
