Plans to issue biometric NRCs reach advanced stage

Government says plans of issuing of new biometric National Registration Cards (NRC) has reached an advance stage. Ministry of Home Affairs Spokesperson Moses Suwali said the project will commence as a pilot programme in Lusaka district and will be scaled up to other parts of the country. The Spokesperson said this in a telephone interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today. Mr Suwali said government has engaged a team from Germany who are expected to arrive in the country next week to inspect the installation of the new equipment. He revealed that the highly advanced technological equipment is being installed today at the Ridgeway Passport Office Production in Lusaka ahead of the exercise. Mr Suwali said the Germany experts are also expected to offer training to the Zambian officers who will continue with issuing biometric NRC to the public after the initiation of the project. He said other stake holders have also been involved in this exercise and that the total amount to be spent will be communicated at a later stage. Mr Suwali said the issuance process will be done gradually adding that the ministry will embark on a massive sensitization programme to the public concerning the exercise. He said that the roll out plan of the new registration programme is also expected be distributed to the public. Mr Suwali has however urged the public to continue getting and using the already existing NRC adding that information will be communicated to the public if need arises to phase them out.