Staff Reporter
The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Ruth Mavhunga Maboyi said that the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) are essential elements of modern day administrative systems and good governance.
The Deputy Minister has said this today, during the commemoration of the Africa Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) in the capital.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, Civil Registration and Vital Statistics are essential elements of modern day administrative systems and facilitate good governance, protection of human rights and the creation of an inclusive society. Well-functioning CRVS systems are important statistical tools that provide continuous, reliable and disaggregated data at any geographical or administrative level,” said Deputy Minister Maboyi.
She further said that CRVS systems are important statistical tools that provide reliable data.
“In addition, effective CRVS systems are important for monitoring progress towards national and international development targets such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Africa Agenda 2063.
“Creation of reliable statistics also dovetails with the National Development Strategy (NDS1) governance pillar, provision of vital and essential services to citizens can only become effective when all are registered and when it is known who lives where, and what services they require,” said Deputy Minister Maboyi.
Deputy Minister Maboyi said that, accurate registration data ensures that “No one and no place is left behind.”
She reiterated that, civil registration is the foundation of legal identity, which is in line with the universal requirement of SDG16.9, which enjoins UN Member States to provide legal identity for all, including birth registration.
She also hailed President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration for providing birth registration free of charge.
“To that end, our Government, under the able leadership of His Excellency, Dr E.D Mnangagwa, has made birth registration free of charge with a view to ensure accessibility of vital civil registration documents by all citizens. These are critical documents in a person`s life from birth to death,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister highlighted that her ministry, through the Civil Registry Department, is currently engaged in a nationwide mobile registration exercise, where vital documents are being offered, free of charge.
The celebrations of Africa Civil Registration and Vital Statistics came into effect following a meeting by African Ministers responsible for CRV Registration, which was held in Mauritania in 2017. The Ministers declared August 10 as CRVS Day to encourage member states to observe the day and reaffirm their commitment to establish effective civil registration systems. Zimbabwe delayed its commemoration of the day because it clashed with the Heroes and Defence Forces commemoration days.
