By Blackson Mkupatira

Chiradzulu, June 12, Mana: Director of Planning and Development (DPD) for Chiradzulu District Council, Henderson Kaumi has urged National Registration Bureau (NRB) registration officers to maintain professionalism and integrity during the National Identification Mop-Up exercise, which will begin in the district on Thursday.

NRB is scheduled to carry out a countrywide National Identification Mop-Up exercise from June to August to complement the 2023/2024 National ID outreach registration exercise, which registered about 82 percent of the targeted 1.5 million new registrants.

Speaking on Tuesday during the opening of a day-long orientation of registration officers, Kaumi told the officers to conduct themselves appropriately and work in close relationship with community members to ensure that the goal of the exercise is achieved.

“During such exercises we hear a lot of negative things from the communities when it comes to the conduct of our officers. Make sure you behave yourselves as this is the last attempt by government to ensure that all eligible citizens have national identification cards,” he said.

Chiradzulu District Council Director of Administration, Grey Mkwanda advised the officers to dedicate themselves to the exercise as it will contribute to the success of the 2025 general elections.

Mkwanda said rumors have already started making rounds that some individuals are registering people from Mozambique and under-aged children with plans to manipulate the upcoming elections; hence, cautioned the registration officers to follow protocols to dismiss the rumor mill.

“Let me also advise you to take care for and protect the equipment you will be given. The country continues to rely on development partners because of carelessness and issues of theft,” Mkwanda added.

On his part, Chiradzulu District Council Principal Registration Officer, Neil Kalonga said the exercise will be carried out in nine phases and will target citizens aged 16 and above who do not have or lost their national IDs.

“We will also take advantage of this exercise to issue death certificates and distribute previously printed IDs,” Kalonga added.

During the orientation, all the 20 registration officers for Chiradzulu pledged to conduct themselves in a professional manner.