Zimbabwe’s Silent Crisis of Statelessness
Jabulile Siwela
Imagine your life without a birth certificate, ID card, or passport. No voting, no bank
accounts, no healthcare, no formal education. This isn’t fiction; it’s the harsh reality
for countless Zimbabweans, especially women and children.
WILD recently held a Community awareness outreach on Access to Documentation
in Makokoba, revealing heart-breaking stories and Shedding light on the struggles
faced by individuals without proper documentation.
One such individual, Gogo Nyoni, expressed her deep concern for her grandchild
who was sent to her without documents, making it difficult for the child to
participate in school activities and exams.
“My grand grandchild was sent to me by my grandchild. Omalayitsha said kuthwa
sizokutshiyela umntwana (We were told to come leave the child with you). She has no documents and struggles to participate in a lot of activities at school without a birth certificate. She managed to write grade 7 exams after a struggle and I fear that she may not manage to write form 4 if she does not have a birth certificate,” said Gogo Nyoni.
Another poignant story was that of Sithokozile Ncube, who at 41 years old has never
had a birth certificate, leading to barriers in education and employment and now
cascading to affect her children.
“I am 41 years old and I have no birth certificate or ID. I have since accepted the pain
of being undocumented, I am crying for my children who are now bearing the same
brunt. My eldest child, Shantel was forced to also drop out of school as she couldn’t
sit for public examinations without documents, I am also failing to get her to vocational training centers as they also demand identity cards,’’ said an emotional mother who has since accepted her fate but seeming concerned about the future of her four children who are being forced by the circumstances beyond their control to bear the brunt of being undocumented.
Mr. Kenneth Ncube shared the challenges he faces after losing his national identity
card, hindering his access to basic social services and financial support from
relatives.
“I have been struggling to replace my lost ID, it’s been years now failing to get
assistance from the Registrar’s office, and due to my fragile health, I was forced to
give up. When l heard WILD would be conducting an awareness outreach I showed
up to get assistance.
“Ever since I lost my national identity card, I have been failing to receive funds from
my relatives across the country who will be eager to remit funds to me. This has
been a struggle for me as I have to rely on other people, opening a bank account is
now a dream to me,” lamented Ncube who was close to tears as he narrated.
These are just a few faces in a vast sea of the undocumented in Zimbabwe. Each
story is a heart-wrenching testament to the powerlessness and vulnerability that
statelessness brings. These narratives underscore the profound impact of being
undocumented, from limitations in education to difficulties in accessing services
and support. The outreach by WILD serves as a crucial initiative in raising awareness
and providing assistance to individuals facing documentation challenges in
Makokoba, emphasizing the urgency of addressing these issues to uphold the rights and dignity of all residents.