Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security spokesperson Margret Kalo has urged parents and guardians to accompany children when applying to register their births.
Speaking to Desert Radio on Tuesday, Kalo said the ministry encourages parents to play their part in registering their children.
“Biological parents are required to be present and sign application forms during registration, and we see that non-biological parents are coming forth, but they are not allowed,” she said.
The ministry is currently running a countrywide campaign, which started on 5 February and will run until July.
The outreach programme includes the registration of births (at any age), applications for duplicate birth certificates, applications for identity (ID) documents, and ID card duplicates.
Kalo said the birth registration form needs to be signed by both biological parents.
The ministry’s system links e-birth notifications to all hospitals, she said, which registers mothers and children at birth.
“There is no way for someone to cheat and say they are the mother of the child. The system will already show that,” Kalo said.
She said to register for any document, supporting documents, such as proof of birth obtained at hospitals, should be brought with.
The spokesperson has urged mothers who give birth at home to bring along witness declarations.
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