Decentralise child birth registration

GOVERNMENT must decentralise the registration and issuance of certificates if the number of child registration is to increase, World Vision national child rights advocacy co-ordinator Lifuna Simushi has said.

And World Vision Zambia has this year done 14,000 birth registrations although certificates are yet to be issued.

In an interview with Femail, Mr Simushi said the current situation where all issuance of birth certificates are done in Lusaka has drastically contributed to low levels of registration which is at 15 per cent countrywide.

He also expressed concern over the failure by Government to highlight the benefits of registering births among ordinary communities in the country.

“Communities still do not see the value of having births registered. In other countries you cannot get a place in Grade one or university without a birth certificate; in Zambia we have plenty of alternatives like using an affidavit,” Mr Simushi said.

Additionally he said Government should attach priority to registering births because it is important in the fight against child marriages and cases of defilement and sexual abuse.

“We have had situations where it is difficult to prove that the child who is defiled or married off is a minor in the absence of a birth record,” Mr Simushi said. The birth certificate legitimises the existence and identity and gives a child a sense of belonging.

And World Vision child protection advocacy officer Chikontwe Mulenga said the institution has managed to withdraw 150 girls from child marriages.

Mr Mulenga said the involvement of traditional rulers has made an impact on the fight against child marriages.

He also said child advocacy protection clubs have been created in schools to promote child participation in the issues that affect them.