Bashungwa orders reissuing of 31,000 erased national ID cards

Dar es Salaam. The minister for Home Affairs, Innocent Bashungwa, has directed the National Identification Authority (NIDA) to reproduce approximately 31,000 national identity cards whose details were erased due to technical issues.

Speaking during a working session between the ministry of Home Affairs and the Tanzania Editors’ Forum (TEF) at Mlimani City in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Mr Bashungwa confirmed the resolution of the challenges that led to the erasure of details on some IDs.

“I have instructed NIDA to collect the defective IDs from citizens promptly, reproduce them without any charges and redistribute them. These IDs are essential and currently serve various purposes,” said Mr Bashungwa.

“They must be reproduced quickly and issued at no cost to ensure citizens receive their IDs without delay,” he added.

The minister further commended NIDA for its improved performance, noting that within a short period, 400,000 IDs have been distributed to citizens out of the 1.2 million IDs that had been stored in offices.

Government’s strategy

Mr Bashungwa outlined six strategic measures aimed at enhancing the operations of the Ministry of Home Affairs and its affiliated agencies. These measures encompass the ministry itself, the National Identification Authority (NIDA), the Police Force, the Immigration Department, the Prisons Service, and the Fire and Rescue Force.

The strategies include efforts to reduce and eliminate road accidents, improve fire disaster response by increasing resources and ensure timely issuance of national IDs.

“The initiatives also aim to enhance public safety through campaigns such as voluntary weapon surrender during amnesty periods, promoting societal acceptance of prisoners released under presidential pardon, and road safety campaigns,” he explained.

Other campaigns include raising awareness about fire prevention, combating illegal immigration through the “know your neighbour” campaign, and expediting the issuance of national IDs.

Additionally, the government will implement campaigns to repatriate refugees voluntarily, combat human trafficking and educate the public on adhering to registration laws.

“These campaigns will be implemented over two years to establish a solid foundation,” Mr Bashungwa said.

Regarding the Fire and Rescue Force, the minister revealed that 12 new high-quality fire engines had been delivered to bolster the country’s firefighting capabilities.

“We are also in the procurement process for approximately 150 additional state-of-the-art fire engines, thanks to the support of President Samia Suluhu Hassan,” said Mr Bashungwa.

He emphasised the importance of incorporating firefighting infrastructure, such as fire hydrants, in urban planning in collaboration with the President’s Office for Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG).

“Future housing and office developments must integrate water infrastructure to address potential fire incidents effectively,” he added.

Curbing road accidents

Mr Bashungwa reiterated the government’s commitment to reducing and eventually eliminating road accidents.

“The goal is to ensure road safety and reduce accidents that claim lives. I have discussed with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Land Transport Regulatory Authority (LATRA) the need for a robust driver licensing system with clear criteria and conditions,” he noted. In her December 31, 2024, speech, President Hassan said 1,715 people died, and 2,719 others were injured in road accidents in 2024.

“When we identify reckless drivers, they should serve as an example to others. Life on the roads should not be jeopardised by negligence,” Mr Bashungwa stressed.

The minister urged editors and journalists to use their platforms to educate the public, particularly on road safety and the importance of registering for national IDs.

The chairperson of TEF, Mr Deodatus Balile, echoed the minister’s sentiments, emphasising the role of the media in supporting government initiatives.

He called for better collaboration between the Police Force and media outlets to enhance reporting and public engagement.

“We request the IGP to meet with media stakeholders, as was the norm in the early 2000s, to improve cooperation between the Police Force and journalists,” Mr Balile suggested.