The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs, and Police, in collaboration with UNICEF and other partners, celebrated the 8th Africa Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Day at the Margaret Mary Orphanage Centre in Naleli, Lesotho.
Minister Lephema, in his briefing, highlighted the significance of civil registration, stating that it enables individuals to access essential services and participate in the economy. He thanked all parties involved for their attendance and made a plea for efficient registration processes, emphasizing the importance of civil registration as a foundation for digital public infrastructure and digital identity systems in Africa. As a token of appreciation to Margaret Mary Orphanage Centre for the job well done, Minister Lephema promised M10Β 000 to the management of the facility to continue the good work.
The Minister of Gender, Youth, Sports, Arts, Culture, and Social Development, Mr Lesaoana, deemed it an honor to be part of the celebration, reiterating the importance of civil registration. The ministry, in collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs, EU, UNICEF, and other partners, works to ensure that children and senior citizens can access identity documents easily.
UNICEF representative Mr Deepak commended the Government of Lesotho for its strides in strengthening CRVS systems, particularly the launch of digital birth registration, which has improved access to birth certificates, especially for children in remote areas. He congratulated the government for officially launching the Digital Birth Registration, marking a transformative shift from manual to digital birth registration.
Sister Blandina, representing the orphanage centre, expressed gratitude to Minister Lephema for providing documents to the residents, enabling them to access their rights as citizens. She highlighted the centreβs efforts in providing care and support to the children, including education, healthcare, mental health care, and discipline. However, she noted that the facility faces challenges, particularly with the areaβs uncleanliness and unsympathetic neighborhoods, which could bring illnesses to the children if not addressed.
Ms Mantsane Monaheng from the Bureau of Statistics emphasized the importance of civil registration for statistical reports, enabling the government to identify areas for improvement and track progress.
The celebration included the issuance of birth certificates and National IDs, as well as various activities such as Basotho traditional dances, poems, music, and teachings on human trafficking. The event underscored the importance of civil registration in Lesotho, with stakeholders emphasizing the need for continued efforts to improve the registration process and provide essential documents to all citizens.
The event was graced by the presence of esteemed guests, including The Honorable Minister of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs, and Police, Mr Lebona Lephema, Honorable Minister of Gender, Youth, Sports, Arts, Culture, and Social Development, Mr Pitso Lesaoana, Deputy Principal Secretary Local Government, Ms Flory Keketsi, Deputy Principal Secretary Home Affairs, Mr Nkhotha Machachamise, UNICEF representative Mr Deepak Bhaskaran, Bureau of Statistics representative Ms Mantsane Monaheng, School Representative Sister Blandina, and the area chief.