Biometric citizen identification to enhance voter registration and identification in Zambia
Published: 23/Apr/2020
Source: Biometric Update
By Brenda Zulu
Biometric citizen identification is expected by the Government of the Republic of Zambia to enhance the electoral process by facilitating effective voter registration and identification.
This year Zambia’s government plans to begin the enrollment exercise and commencement of the electronic civil registration of all citizen’s demographic and biometric attributes countrywide. This is in readiness for issuance of the biometric enabled digital National Registration Card (NRC), or an electronic identity document, at the cost of ZMK230 million (roughly US$12.6 million).
Delivering the Ministerial Statement to Parliament on 13th December 2019, Stephen Kapyongo, Home Affairs Minister explained the government’s position in as far as collection of biometrics for citizens was concerned.
Kapyongo said the Government of the Republic of Zambia through the Ministry of Home Affairs has revived the Integrated National Registration Information System (INRIS).
“The electronic identity card will act as a single most secure source of verifying and identifying citizenship status of persons living in Zambia whether indigenous citizens, residents or immigrants and facilitate access to transactional and non-transactional public services,” explained Kapyongo.