Tanzania: Kids lined up for NIDA numbers

Published: 25/Apr/2020
Source: The Guardian / IPPMedia (Dar es Salaam)

By Felister Peter

THE government intends to issue national identification numbers (NIN) to citizens and residents below 18 years after it emerged that the group cannot register phone numbers biometrically.

The move has been informed by the fact that NIN and national identity cards issuance is limited to people aged 18 and above while there is no law prohibiting those below that age from operring mobile phones.

Home Affairs minister George Simbachawene (pictured) said this when responding to a number of issues raised by MPs when contributing to debate on the ministry’s budget estimates for the 2020/2021 financial year.

Simbachawene said the ministry has scheduled a meeting with officials from the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) and the National Identification Authority (NIDA) on how the matter can be worked upon.

He said the difference between total registered SIM cards through biometric system and the number of issued national identification numbers (NIN) is clear indication that many people have registered SIM cards for use by people who do not have NIN.

Recent data from the ministry show that TCRA has so far registered 37.2m SIM cards through biometric registration, but NIDA has only issued 21.8m NIN until last month.

He however clarified that the Registration and Identification of Persons Act, (No.11 of 1986) which was revised, gives NIDA the mandate to register and issue identity cards to Tanzanian citizens and eligible residents who are non-citizens with the age of 18 years and above.

Read further: https://www.ippmedia.com/en/news/kids-lined-nida-numbers

Themes: ID Documents and Passports
Regions: Tanzania
Year: 2020