Lesotho making progress in issuing Identity Documents

Lesotho’s Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Motlalentoa Letsosa says the government has made significant progress in its issuing of legal documents.

Mr. Letsosa was speaking during the commemoration of the fifth Africa Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Day held at Qanya Ha Sekake in Qacha’s Nek.

This year, CRVS Day was celebrated under the theme; ‘Harnessing coordination, country leadership and ownership to strengthen integrated civil registration and vital statistics systems: a vehicle for #CountingEveryone’.

Mr. Letsosa said since 2013, the ministry has issued birth certificates to 2.5 million people while 1.5 million received their Identification Document (ID), adding that the registration of birth certificates has improved from 20 percent to 60 percent and ID’s from 50 percent to 70 percent.

The Director of National Identity and Civil Registration, Mr. Napo Khoele said the ministry will announce statistics on identity documents based on gender and age, as this can enable the country to make plans of economic development.

“It is a human right that every Mosotho is legally registered and has up-to-date identification documents,” he said.

Khoele then urged the public to register their children so that they can rightfully have access to services that will be beneficial to them.

Africa Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Day is celebrated on 10 August every year with the aim to increase public awareness of the importance of timely registration of vital events, particularly births and deaths, through well-functioning civil and vital statistics systems.