By Isaac Zulu
Some people in Central Province are shunning the ongoing Integrated National Registration and Identification System (INRIS) exercise alleging that the programme is aimed at initiating citizens into satanism.
The INRIS is a system for electronic civil registration management system, which is intended to provide biometric enabled National Registration Cards (NRCs) and issuance of birth and death certificates by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security.
And Patriotic Front Central Province chairman Billy Sichamba has attributed the apathy that has characterized the INRIS programme to inadequate sensitization on the exercise.
But Kapiri Mposhi district commissioner Francis Hasalama has accused the opposition political parties of discouraging residents in the region from registering citizens on the (INRIS), arguing that a named political party and other individuals have waged a war to discredit the whole exercise.
Reports have emerged that apathy has marred the ongoing registration of citizens on INRIS in most parts of Central Province.
Kapiri Mposhi District Commissioner Hasalama has said members of a named political party and some people have waged a crusade targeting households in the district to discredit the INRIS programme, which has resulted in the low response to the exercise.
Out of the 41,186 eligible citizens targeted to be registered on the INRIS in the district only about 4,152 have since been registered during the 40 day exercise which commenced on November 6, 2023 and ending on January 6, 2024.
But Patriotic Front Central Province chairman Billy Sichamba has attributed the apathy that has characterized the INRIS to inadequate sensitization on the same by those mandated to carry out the exercise.
“It is unacceptable and irresponsible for any government official or political party leaders in the ruling party to claim that it is the opposition that is trying to frustrate or discredit this exercise. This is a government programme. And it being a government programme, it should have massive sensitisation and awareness raising on the Integrated National Registration and Identification System in order for members of the public to appreciate and understand the whole exercise. Otherwise, this exercise lacks enough publicity and transparency. And because of that, there’s skepticism about the whole programme,” said Sichamba.
But Hasalama has maintained that some opposition political parties are telling members of the public that the exercise is a ploy to rig the 2026 general elections.
“They are telling people that this exercise is sponsored to put the 666 mark on people and that those submitting information are voting for UPND in advance in the 2026 elections which is not true,” Hasalama said.
He advised eligible citizens to take advantage of the static and mobile teams from the Department of National Registration to register into the INRIS.
“This service has been brought near to you this time around but it will only be done at the district office after that it will be very expensive for you to travel just for an NRC so disregard the misinformation and take advantage of the exercise near you,” Hasalama said.
He said the government means well with the INRIS programme, adding that the details obtained through the programme will facilitate the issuance of new and secure biometric National Registration Cards (NRC) as the country heads to digitizing most of its systems and services.
“Don’t be deceived by people who are telling you that this registration is there for the President to rig the next elections coming. Others have a myth to believe that this is something to do with satanism and 666. Please don’t be deceived,” said Hasalama.
But some of the residents spoken to in Mkushi district still feel that the INRIS is aimed at initiating citizens into satanism.
A senior citizen, Gibson Musonda, said the Zambian citizens have had the same type of National Registration Cards (NRCs) and wondered why the UPND administration wants to change the NRCs, this time around.
“We have been having these NRCs and replacing them where necessary over the years. What do they want to achieve for them to introduce this new system? The people are skeptical about this whole exercise. Some of us have gone to an extent of suspecting satanism,” said Musonda
