Zimbabwe: Covid-19 creates birth certificate backlog
Published: 31/Aug/2020
Source: The Herald (Harare)
By Leroy Dzenga
No children born after March 30 this year have birth certificates, one of the biggest groups missing critical documents since the Registrar General’s office decided only burial orders would be issued under the Covid-19 decongestion programme.
While the Birth and Deaths Registration Act says a child must be registered within 42 days, six weeks, of birth, the Registrar General’s office has told parents not to worry as every unregistered birth will be tracked as soon as the circumstances allow.
Responding to questions, Acting Registrar General Mr Henry Machiri said no penalties will be levied for late registrations.
“Covid-19 negatively affected issuance of birth certificates. Due to Government measures that were put in place to contain the spread of Covid-19, only issuance of burial orders was considered an essential service while other services were temporarily suspended.
Read further: https://www.herald.co.zw/covid-19-creates-birth-certificate-backlog/