3rd September 2020
Own Correspondent
The Minister of Nationality, immigration and Gender Affairs has revealed that she is aware of provisions in section 14 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act, compelling clients who want to make changes in personal details on their birth certificates to obtain an order of the High Court.
Responding to a question from the Mochudi East Parliamentarian Mabuse Mopati Pule in the National Assembly Thursday, the under fire Minister insisted that the requirement was needed to preserve the integrity of the National Birth Register.
“My Ministry acknowledges the need to facilitate the process of altering personal details in the birth certificate. The Births and Deaths registration Act was enacted in 1968 and last reviewed in 1998. Currently Batswana who cannot afford legal fees are assisted through Legal Aid Botswana,” said Anna Maria Mokgethi, Ministry of Nationality, immigration and Gender Affairs.
She said, “My Ministry is in the process of reviewing the Births and Deaths registration Act with a view to facilitate alteration of personal details and extend the authority to other competent Authorities such as magistrate Courts as they are more widespread in the country than High courts. This will facilitate accessibility and affordability of the service to Batswana.”
