Zambia Urges Universal Birth Registration to Protect Every Child
Zambia has renewed its commitment to improving civil registration systems to ensure that every child is counted and protected, as the country joined the rest of the continent in commemorating Africa Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Day.
According to UNICEF (2024), only 14 per cent of Zambian children under the age of five have had their births registered, and just six per cent hold an official birth certificate—leaving thousands invisible in official records.
The event, held under the theme “Civil registration as a foundation for digital public infrastructure and digital legal identity systems in Africa”, was jointly organised by Save the Children International (SCI) Zambia and the Ministry of Home Affairs, through the Department of National Registration, Passport and Citizenship.
Speaking on behalf of Home Affairs and Internal Security Minister Jack Mwimbu, Permanent Secretary Dickson Matembo stressed the life-changing importance of civil registration.
“Civil registration is not just about records on paper or entries in a database. It is about recognition, inclusion, and dignity for every person from the moment they are born,” he said.
United Nations Zambia Resident Coordinator Dr Clement Peter Lasuba urged the government and its partners to invest in inclusive and resilient digital systems, strengthen legal frameworks and data protection policies, and integrate civil registration with identity and social protection systems.
“We must reaffirm CRVS as a strategic pillar of the country’s digital transformation,” Dr Lasuba said.
SCI Zambia Country Director Chilobe Kambikambi commended the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Department of National Registration for their commitment to advancing CRVS.
“Civil registration is a gateway to rights, protection, and opportunity. Without legal identity, children are excluded from accessing education, healthcare, and protection services,” she said.
Stakeholders agreed that accelerating birth registration is vital for achieving Zambia’s child protection and development goals, ensuring no child is left behind.
