Govt Postpones Phase Two Of NRC Exercise

Government has announced the postponement of phase two of the 2020 Mobile National Registration Card (NRC) exercise.

Phase one is drawing to a close and phase two was expected to commence on September 1st.

According to the Minister of Home Affairs Stephen Kampyongo the decision was taken due to the slow start and challenges experienced during phase one, with some delays resulting from COVID-19. No new start date for phase two was announced.

During phase one more than 331,472 citizens have acquired a NRC to date.

The first phase covers five provinces, with Copperbelt, Luapula and Northern Provinces recording the highest numbers of new registrations at 79,111, 74,989, and 78,370 respectively. Figures were considerably lower in Eastern and Northwestern provinces, at 56,768 and 42,234 respectively. 

Phase two of the exercise is scheduled to commence on September 1st and will cover Southern, Western, Central, Muchinga and Lusaka Provinces.

Earlier this month moves by the government to prevent monitoring of the process sparked outcry from civil society. After the exercise had commenced the Ministry of Home Affairs ordered organisations which have taken to monitoring to disband and allow officials tasked with monitoring voter registration to do their job.

Operation Young Vote (OYV) was among those to criticise the move stating it was “not only appalled and dismayed but also very concerned and displeased” by the move.

Writing on the suspension Executive Director of OYV Guess Nyirenda stated, “As OYV we find the pronouncement and threats misplaced in that the exercise is not an ordinary undertaking but an extraordinary one whose many purpose is related to the forth coming voter registration exercise by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and the 2021 National Elections. This sudden apprehension by Government on citizens monitoring on how a service is being provided to members of the general public leaves a lot to be desired. This is very unusual especially that this is not the first time Zambia is conducting the Mobile Issuance of NRCs in relation to the electoral process.”  

“The skepticism perception Government is trying to employ to the point of seemingly being scared of its own shadow must not be allowed anywhere near the process as it is a recipe for mistrust and loss of confidence by the citizens in such undertakings of paramount significance in the nation,” he continued. 

Meanwhile, UPND President Hakainde Hichilema (HH) has warned followers on social media of attempts to disenfranchise voters. 

“By collecting your NRCs (National Registration Cards), they are trying to defranchise you and prevent you from voting. It is illegal. You have a right to vote them out. Record them, share and report to the Police,” the opposition leader states.