By Wezzie Gausi:
The National Registration Bureau (NRB) plans to register 8,000 children this year as part of its efforts to improve civil registration and achieve universal coverage, Secretary for NRB Mphatso Sambo has said.
Sambo made the remarks after appearing before members of the Parliamentary Cluster on Defence, International Relations and Security at Parliament Building, where he outlined NRB’s key activities and resource needs for the 2025-26 financial year.
He said the exercise was crucial in strengthening Malawi’s National Registration and Identification System (NRIS).
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“Our goal is to ensure that every child in Malawi has a legal identity. Birth registration is a fundamental right and serves as the foundation for accessing essential services such as education and healthcare,” Sambo said.
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He added that NRB had already made significant progress in civil registration.
“Between April 2024 and February 2025, NRB integrated electronic birth and death registration systems with the national ID system and engaged in nationwide campaigns to increase awareness and uptake of registration services,” Sambo said.
Co-cluster chairperson Simeon Salambula hailed NRB’s move to register more children, describing it as a step towards inclusive national registration.
“Registering 8,000 children this year will help strengthen civil documentation in Malawi. However, NRB must also ensure that adult registration continues uninterrupted,” Salambula said.
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He also urged NRB to address public concerns regarding the registration process, as negative reports have raised doubts about the credibility of the system.
“There have been many complaints about NRB registration and these must be resolved to restore public trust. The bureau should work towards clearing misinformation and ensuring transparency in its processes,” he said.
Sambo also revealed that NRB was working on solutions such as procuring high-performance printers, upgrading data systems and setting up field offices to make services more accessible to community members.
