Mozambique Launches Massive Free Birth Registration Campaign to Tackle Identity Crisis
Maputo, Mozambique—In a groundbreaking effort to address a longstanding issue, Mozambique’s Justice Ministry has rolled out a nationwide campaign to provide free birth registration and civil identification documents to millions of its citizens. The initiative, which kicked off on March 23 and will run until December 31, aims to register an estimated 7 million people, with a daily target of 25,000 registrations.
The campaign is designed to tackle what Justice Minister Mateus Saize described as a “critical deficit” in birth registration and the alarming number of citizens without legal identification. Speaking in a statement, Saize emphasized the importance of ensuring that Mozambicans have access to basic civil rights, which are often contingent on possessing official documents.
At the heart of the initiative are 500 mobile brigades that will travel across districts, administrative posts, and remote communities to deliver services directly to those who have been marginalized or excluded from formal systems. These teams, comprising officials from the Justice Ministry and agents from the Ministry of the Interior, will not only register births but also issue identity cards simultaneously—a first-of-its-kind effort to streamline bureaucratic processes.
“This campaign represents a significant shift in how we approach civil registration,” Saize explained. “Instead of waiting for citizens to come to us, we are bringing these essential services to their doorsteps.”
The move is expected to have profound implications for millions of Mozambicans, particularly those in rural and underserved areas. Without birth certificates or identification cards, many individuals face barriers to accessing healthcare, education, and formal employment. In some cases, they are unable to vote, rent property, or even open a bank account.
The cost of the operation is being funded by the EDGE Project Mozambique, a World Bank-backed initiative focused on digital governance, public services, and the digital economy. This financial support ensures that all services provided under the campaign will be entirely free of charge, eliminating a major obstacle for low-income families.
Civil registry offices across the country have been instructed to waive fees for all requests submitted during the campaign period. This directive underscores the government’s commitment to making legal identification accessible to everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic status.
The campaign also aligns with Mozambique’s broader goals of modernizing its identification systems and fostering a more inclusive digital economy. By issuing digital identity cards, the country hopes to lay the groundwork for improved public services and greater economic participation.
Local communities have welcomed the initiative with open arms. For many, it represents a long-awaited opportunity to gain legal recognition and access opportunities that were previously out of reach. One resident from a rural village in Gaza Province shared, “For years, my children couldn’t go to school because they didn’t have birth certificates. This campaign is a dream come true for families like ours.”
As the mobile brigades continue their work across the country, the Justice Ministry has urged citizens to take advantage of the initiative and ensure that their documentation is up to date. The ultimate goal, officials say, is to close the gap between the law—which mandates identity cards for all citizens—and the reality, where millions still lack this basic form of identification.
With its ambitious targets and community-centered approach, Mozambique’s free birth registration campaign could serve as a model for other nations grappling with similar challenges. For now, it offers hope to millions and marks a significant step toward a more equitable and inclusive society.
— Reported by Nexio News
