By Ncaba Ntshakala
Eswatini’s civil registration system has taken a major leap forward with the unveiling of the 2023 Annual Statistics Report and the newly enacted Civil Registration Act of 2023.
The announcements were made by Minister of Home Affairs, Princess Lindiwe, during the 7th Africa Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Day commemoration held at the Royal Villas recently.
The Minister highlighted Eswatini’s progress in modernizing its civil registration processes, where she emphasized that the National Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Act of 2023 marks a pivotal advancement for the nation.
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The legislation is designed to ensure that all citizens have access to a reliable and efficient system that prioritizes accuracy, timeliness, and data protection.
In her address, Princess Lindiwe also presented the 2023 Annual Vital Statistics Report, the eighth such report since 2016.
This comprehensive report provides a detailed overview of the national vital statistics for 2023, derived from the National Population Register (NPR).
The report’s findings are crucial to the ongoing efforts aimed at improving the civil registration process, with the ultimate goal of achieving an 80% completeness rate for both birth and death registrations by 2030.
The report revealed notable improvements in the completeness of registrations over the past year. Birth registration completeness increased from 36% in 2022 to 42% in 2023, while death registration completeness rose from 55% to 60% during the same period.
These figures were said to highlight the effectiveness of recent initiatives aimed at strengthening the civil registration system, as well as the government’s commitment to ensuring that all vital events are accurately recorded and protected.
Every year on 10 August, Africa commemorates Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Day, a time dedicated to highlighting the critical role CRVS systems play in ensuring that everyone counts and is counted.
This year’s theme, “Strengthening the linkage of CRVS to legal identity systems through digitalization for enhanced inclusion,” was said to highlight the vital connection between CRVS and the official recording of every person’s identity to enhance inclusive development across the continent.
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According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), CRVS systems are the backbone of legal identity in Africa which ensures that births, deaths, marriages and other vital events are officially recorded.
UNFPA asserts that this documentation is essential for individuals to access fundamental rights and services throughout their lives.
In a statement shared during the commemoration, UNFPA stated, “In a region where millions still lack formal identification, strengthening CRVS systems is crucial for inclusive governance, gender empowerment, social protection and sustainable development.
