By Vincent Khonje

Mchinji, February 20, Mana: As the sixth phase of the National ID Outreach and Community Death Registration exercise begins this Wednesday, Mchinji District Commissioner Lucia Chidalengwa has urged the District Registration Task Force (DRTF) to play an important role in the exercise.

Mchinji, Mzimba North, Dedza, and Chikwawa districts are in phase six of the exercise, which will commence on Wednesday, February 21 and runs for 15 days up to March 6, 2024.

Chidalengwa, speaking to the DRTF before the exercise, said the committee is very important in dealing with all the issues that concern citizen registration and needs to play a very important role.

“These days everyone needs a National ID because it is a very important document. Most institutions identify citizens using National IDs, including all social protection programmes. So, the exercise is very important and the DRTF is also crucial in making sure the exercise goes on smoothly,” said Chidalengwa.

This exercise is aimed at offering an opportunity to citizens who have just turned 16 years old to register for their first ID card and will also give a chance to get an ID card replacement for those who have their cards lost or damaged.

On the other hand, the Community Death Registration exercise intends to register all deaths that occurred from 2017 to-date.

Mchinji Police Officer in Charge John Nkhoma, commenting on the exercise, told the committee to be vigilant, as Mchinji is a border district where non-Malawian citizens can take advantage of the exercise.

“The officers conducting the exercise have to be aware of foreigners and have to be warned that registering ineligible people is a criminal offence and will be arrested,” said Nkhoma.

During the exercise, National Registration Bureau will place teams of registration officers at selected centres in every ward in a particular district.