The Sunday News
Mthabisi Tshuma and Rutendo Nyeve in Makhulela, Bulilima
IDENTITY documentation does not only help in identifying persons and their nationalities, they are important for national planning, where governments are informed about the number, age and gender of the population for resource allocation and distribution.
They are a measure of civilisation in any community as having them means the people can easily partake in national programmes both political and economic.
Communities that are reluctant to get identities are therefore usually left out in various developmental programmes.
This has been the case with the San community in Bulilima District of Matabeleland South Province and Tsholotsho in Matabeleland North Province. The communities were cut out from the rest of the country and were seemingly comfortable in their not so splendid isolation.
For as long as they remember, they have not bothered themselves even going to vote. The few that had visited offices were advised to bring other documents that made them eligible to access the identity documents and it all ended there.
Perhaps that was too much to ask.
In its quest of not leaving behind anyone, the Second Republic walked the talk and recently facilitated the issuance of identity documents to these previously marginalised communities. This has created a sense of belonging among these almost forgotten citizens.
Their registration follows Cabinet’s recent decision that a waiver be placed on the requirements for documentation of the San community.
The San have in the past been regarded as a poverty-stricken community who have struggled to be reintegrated into modern society having previously lived a nomadic life as hunters and gatherers.
The Government has taken a deliberate step to ensure that they also enjoy the benefits of being full citizens of the country starting with their registration.
This is in line with President Mnangagwa’s promise that no one will be left behind as the country forges towards an upper middle-income economy by 2030.
In an event held at Makhulela Village in Ward 9 in Bulilima District and attended by vaccinated villagers recently, the San community paid tribute to Government’s leadership and First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa.
It was the First Lady who amplified the anomaly and worked together with the Member of Parliament for Bulilima West constituency Cde Dingumuzi Phuti to facilitate the issuance of identity documents.
In the past month over 600 people from the San community have managed to get identify documentation through the Registrar-General’s Office.
The First Lady also went on to provide a holiday resort trip for the San community children who for the first time registered their presence in Victoria Falls.
Speaking at the occasion, Makhulela village head Mrs Matjena Ncube said the experience at Victoria Falls and the documentation exercise would always be remembered.
“On behalf of the people of Makhulela village from the children to the elderly, we are very happy with the support we have received from First Lady Amai Mnangagwa who has played a big role in making Government recognise us.
“Without forgetting our legislator Cde Phuti we are confident that the listening Government is surely changing the lives of marginalised communities countrywide,” said Mrs Ncube.
In interviews on the sidelines of the celebrations, villagers who received their identity documents said their lives were to change for the better.
Mr Knowledge Ndlovu (39) said as someone who had failed to get a job, he pins his hope on being an employed individual.
“This important exercise has helped us as we now feel recognised in the country. All the San community at the moment have birth certificates and almost everyone acquired their documentation and this also includes everyone who had lost it in the past,” said Mr Ndlovu.
Ms Ntombile Sibanda said:
“The coming of the First Lady is a blessing to us as in the past we have been a marginalised group. To have our children having to visit the majestic Victoria Falls was an eye opener as they got to learn about other societies in the country.
“This also assist us as elders as we felt lost and were outdated in certain issues from issues to do with water sanitation, health and education. We thank the MP and councillor for leading us to this.” .
Mrs Sibangelizwe Mlambo said:
“Many people did not even have the knowledge of what an ID is and only got to know about it after the exercise.
“This will also open doors for them to acquire education and also set up their careers as some were failing to get jobs because they did not have documentation,” she said.
Ward 9 councillor Charles Ngulube said the development will go a long way in alleviating the plight of the San community.
Cde Phuti heaped praises on the First Family saying, the gesture of the Mother of the Nation was life transforming.
“On behalf of Bulilima West Constituency, I am very delighted by the First Lady’s gesture. From the very moment she stepped on these soils during my campaign as MP, things have never been the same.
“From nutritional gardens, schools setting up, identity documents to having sustainable source of income projects we want to thank President Mnangagwa for hearing our cries through First Lady Amai Mnangagwa and relevant ministries, surely this is a Listening Government,” said Cde Phuti.
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