14 Dec 2023

The Minister of Labour and Home Affairs Ms Annah Mokgethi has told Parliament that the Births and Deaths Registration Act provides for registration of all births that occur in Botswana regardless of citizenship and this includes children born between foreigners and citizens.

She stated that as long as parents filed the necessary forms their children were issued with birth certificates. 

She said she was not aware of children who were not able to be admitted to schools due to lack of birth certificates.

Ms Mokgethi said where a child was born in a health facility, a birth notification form was issued by a doctor or midwife, adding that this form was used for registration and issuance of a birth certificate before the mother left the health facility.

The minister stated that in the case of a birth that occurred outside a health facility supporting information would be required from traditional authorities and those who were present at the time of birth.

She said parents who had not registered their children were advised to visit the nearest Civil and National Registration Office for guidance on the requirements for birth registration.

Furthermore, she said parents were advised to always register their children within the prescribed time of 60 days from the time of birth.

This, she said would avoid challenges such as late registration fines/ penalties and the need for submission of additional proof to support an application for registration. Ms Mokgethi pointed out that her ministry was not aware that some children had not attended schools due to challenges related to the issuance of birth certificates.

She said her ministry worked closely with the Ministry of Education and Skills Development through schools to ensure all children were issued with birth certificates of which this matter had never been raised.

She said the ministry continued to strengthen collaboration in this area to ensure that children were raised with birth certificates.

The minister advised parents to register their children in time and provide accurate information to facilitate registration.

Furthermore, she said her ministry continued to operate registration offices within all major health facilities to ensure timely registration in addition to conducting outreach services to cater for those that may have been missed.

MP for Francistown West Mr Ignatius Moswaane had asked the minister if she was aware that children born between a Motswana and a foreigner were going through challenges where birth certificates were not properly completed.

He asked if she was aware that some Batswana children were not able to be admitted to schools where parents had failed to produce a birth certificate.

Mr Moswaane asked the minister to give guidance on the procedure to be followed when a parent or child was in such a crisis.

Furthermore, he asked the minister if she was aware that some children had not attended schools due to the problems stated above and asked her to state the remedial actions. ends