NANCY SIAME, Lusaka
MINISTRY of Home Affairs spokesperson Moses Suwali says the ministry is still waiting for the treasury to release resources to enable it to start the second phase of the mobile issuance of national registration cards (NRCs).
The second phase was expected to start early this month.
Mr Suwali said in an interview on Thursday that the second phase, which will include Lusaka, Eastern, Western and Southern provinces, is expected to commence early next month.
“We are preparing ourselves and we are just waiting for funding from the treasury,” Mr Suwali said.
He said K34 million was spent on the first phase of the mobile issuance of NRCs, which took place in Muchinga, Central and Northern provinces, and over 400,000 people were registered.
Mr Suwali said Minister of Home Affairs Davies Mwila is happy with the number of people captured in the first phase as the projected number was 245,000.
He also advised members of the public to also take advantage of the already existing NRC offices to obtain cards as the mobile facility is mostly meant for those in remote areas.
“Mobile issuance of NRCs is just meant to enhance the already existing NRC offices, so people must not wait for mobile officers,” Mr Suwali said.
Government started the mobile issuance of NRCs in April this year.