Department of National Registration, Passport and Citizenship - DNRPC

Celebrating our hardworking DNRPC team awarded during the 2026 Labour Day Commemorations

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security has called for stronger coordination among institutions involved in death investigations, warning that a lack of synchronisation is undermining justice delivery and national planning.
In a speech read on his behalf by Director of Human Resource and Administration, Mrs Nicolynn Nyoni, Mr. Dickson Matembo noted that delays, over-detention, and inconsistent certification persist despite the existence of clear laws.
This was during the official opening of a workshop on strengthening death investigation in Zambia.
Mr. Matembo emphasised the need for a “One Government Approach” to ensure shared responsibility, seamless processes, and accountability.
He urged participants to develop practical and implementable workflows, from scene discovery to civil registration stressing that any breakdown in the process represents a system failure and erodes public trust.
Meanwhile, Chief Justice Mumba Malila, in a speech read on his behalf by Resident Magistrate, Chrisantos Kateule, reaffirmed the Judiciary of Zambia’s critical role in ensuring justice through effective reliance on death investigation systems.
He noted that courts depend on credible evidence generated by other institutions.
Justice Malila stated that while courts do not investigate deaths, they interpret and assess medico-legal findings presented before them.
He warned that weak investigations lead to delays, evidentiary challenges, and possible miscarriages of justice.
Justice Malila further emphasised the need for integrity, procedural compliance, and clear findings, urging stronger coordination among law enforcement, forensic, and civil registration bodies to enhance justice delivery.
And representing the House of Chiefs, Chief Mwenewisi said the law recognises the role of traditional leaders in ensuring that deaths are reported and brought to the attention of appropriate authorities.
However, Chief Mwenewisi noted that beyond the legal framework, communities have a responsibility to ensure that every death is handled with dignity, accountability, and respect.
He added that the workshop is important as it will help traditional leaders align their roles, improve communication, and ensure that deaths are properly reported and managed.
“As traditional leaders, we are committed to strengthening notification, supporting lawful processes, and working closely with government institutions to ensure that the system functions effectively,” Chief Mwenewisi said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Registrar General Mr. Kennedy Chisumpa warned that gaps in the reporting and documentation of deaths pose a significant threat to the integrity of Zambia’s national records.
Mr. Chisumpa emphasised that civil registration operates as a chain, where failure at any earlier stage whether at notification, investigation, or certification directly affects the integrity of the national register.
And State Forensic Pathologist Dr Adam Muchenleng’anga expressed appreciation for the support from the parent ministry and cooperating partners. He expressed optimism that, going forward, all departments involved in death investigations will coordinate effectively and clearly understand their roles as guided by the Inquests Act.

In case you missed it, after the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security showed him the Digital ID for Zambia, the President said he was Happy to have seen it and that the Ministry must roll it out post Elections. Video courtesy of Diamond TV Online.