By MOFFAT  CHAZINGWA –
HOME Affairs Minister Davies Mwila has ordered for an increased number of teams conducting the issuance of National Registration Cards (NRCs) in Kitwe to help expedite the process.
Kitwe was allocated 11 teams for the issuance exercise but the Minister stated that the teams should increase to 15.
Mr Mwila however, observed when he made an impromptu inspection of the mobile registration centers in Kitwe at the weekend that there was need to increase the number of teams from 11 to 15.
This was because of the overwhelming response received from the members of the public.
Mr Mwila, who had a torrid time inspecting mobile registration centers characterized by winding queues formed by members of the public seeking to obtain NRCs, said Kitwe was composed of densely populated communities.
He said after his inspection of all the mobile registration centers in Kitwe, it was apparent that going by the overwhelming response from members of the public, Kitwe needed an increased number of teams to effectively conduct the exercise.
“I have decided to increase the number of teams from 11 which are there at the moment to at least 15 so that we have more than one team in some centers where are too many people like Kawama and Bulangililo,” he said.
Mr Mwila warned officials and in particular supervisors attached to the mobile registration exercise against complacency, stressing that he was not going to take kindly to failure by officers to deliver, especially that Government had now made available all the needed materials and equipment.
He reiterated a warning against members of the public, aiding foreigners to obtain NRCs that they risked being arrested and prosecuted if found doing so.
“We have attached four to five officers from various security wings to conduct screening to make sure that no foreigners should take advantage of this exercise to obtain NRCs,” Mr Mwila said.
Mr Mwila who was accompanied by Copperbelt deputy permanent secretary Elias Kamanga, Kitwe District Commissioner Chanda Kabwe, Kitwe Mayor Kelvin Sinyangwe and Copperbelt National Registration officer Dickson Sakala, inspected Chimwemwe, Mindolo, Buchi-Kamitondo, Kawama, Garnetone and Bulangililo among other mobile registration centers.