By SYLVIA MWEETWA –

HOME Affairs Deputy Minister  Gerry  Chanda  yesterday launched the mobile National Registration Cards (NRC) issuance exercise in Central Province with a call for officers  managing the  initiative to  be  alert and  ensure  the  document is  only  issued  to eligible Zambians.
Colonel Chanda  said the NRC is  an important  document which should  not be issued  carelessly  without  proper  documentation and warned that those  found  attempting to take advantage of the exercise will be prosecuted.
The launch was attended by Central Provincial Minister  Davis Chisopa, Permanent Secretary Edwidge Mutale  and  her counterpart from  Home Affairs Chileshe Mulenga and  District Commissioners for  Kabwe and Ngabwe.
Col Chanda said it is important for  officers to be  alert  during the exercise which will run  for  90 days.
He said some foreigners may attempt  to  obtain the  national identity and appealed  to  police, immigration and other security officers  to guard against this.
“I want to point out that  this  exercise  should target  only eligible Zambians   to obtain new  NRCs and make  replacements  for lost or damaged ones,” he said.
He  appealed  to  those  seeking to obtain  NRCs  for the first time to be accompanied by a guardian or parents  who are NRC  holders, or should  present birth certificates, records or  a  register from  a  village  headman.
The deputy minister, however, reaffirmed Government’s commitment to  ensuring  the exercise is a  success.
He urged  citizens  to make use of the exercise  which  is  targeting to register 1, 1075, 000 people countrywide and that the first  phase would be conducted is  in Central,  Northern and Munchinga provinces.
Traditional leaders, the Church, law  makers and other stakeholders should support the exercise.
Speaking earlier, Mr Chisopa  said the exercise  is  important and that  it is  a  clear testimony of  the Patriotic Front (PF)  Government’s commitment to ensuring  that  the NRCs  are  issued and citizens are empowered.