SPC Emphasizes Efficient Service Delivery at National Registration Bureau
The SPC's remarks underscore the administration's recognition of the challenges faced by the NRB and its determination to collaborate with development partners.
LILONGWE, Malawi - Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC) Colleen Zamba has affirmed the government's commitment to ensuring efficient service delivery at the National Registration Bureau (NRB), writes AfricaBrief Staff Reporter.
Zamba made the remarks during a commissioning ceremony for a high-performance National ID printer in Lilongwe on Friday.
"The NRB has grappled with production challenges in meeting the demand for National ID cards, resulting in a backlog of 1.5 million unprinted records in its system. As government, we are aware that there is still need for more support to resolve various challenges," she said.
Zamba acknowledged that in 2017, the NRB implemented a mass registration exercise where over 9 million citizens were registered and received their National ID cards.
She expressed gratitude to development partners for their support in procuring additional high-performance printers, infrastructure, and human capital enhancement.
The newly-commissioned high-performance National ID printer, officially unveiled by Minister of Homeland Security Ken Zikhale Ng'oma, has a capacity of printing 15,000 IDs per day.
However, it is currently printing approximately 3,000 per day, a significant increase from the previous output of 800 IDs per day.
"This is a substantial improvement in service delivery, but we recognize that more needs to be done to address the backlog and meet the growing demand for National ID cards," Zamba stated.
She emphasized the government's commitment to continually improving the NRB's operational capacity, ensuring citizens have timely access to vital identification documents required for various services and transactions.
The SPC's remarks underscore the administration's recognition of the challenges faced by the NRB and its determination to collaborate with development partners in implementing sustainable solutions for efficient and inclusive service delivery.
As Malawi continues its efforts to streamline national registration processes, the commissioning of the high-performance printer marks a significant stride towards enhancing the NRB's capabilities and addressing the needs of the nation's growing population.