Tegeta residents wait for their turn to register for national IDs at Tegeta Kibaoni in Dar es Salaam yesterday shortly before the National Identification Authority (NIDA) announced an extension to the deadline for residents of the city to register. (Photo: Tryphone Mweji)

The National Identification Authority (NIDA) has extended for a week registration to Dar es Salaam residents for the national identity cards.

The move comes following complaints and criticism over the slow pace of the exercise, and difficulties encountered in filling the forms.

The authority had initially planned to finish the exercise by today (July30, 2012), but due to the hitches, has extended registration to August 06.

A statement availed to this paper yesterday evening and signed by the NIDA Director General, Dickson Maimu said after the additional week elapses, the authority will not offer any further extensions.

“We want Dar es Salaam residents to utilise the time extended effectively to fill the National IDs application forms,” said Maimu.

The DG said all foreigners should fill form 2A showing their nationality and their residence status.

He said according to the Registration and Identification of Persons Act, of 1986 article 9 (2) which states: “Where the applicant is illiterate or otherwise unable to write, he shall dictate the relevant particulars to a registration officer or any other person authorised by the Registrar for that purpose and, upon completion, the applicant shall acknowledge the correctness of the particulars by affixing his signature, fingerprint or mark in the presence of the registration officer or the other person authorised, in such place and in such form as may be indicated.”

Persons unable to read and write will be helped by the registrars at the centres to fill the forms.

He clarified further that that those who are able to read and write should be given the forms to fill by themselves at the registration centres under the supervision of the registrars.

Maimu said people with special needs including sick people, elders, and people with disabilities should submit their requirements to the registration centres through their ward or street leaders who will give them the required services.

A survey conducted by The Guardian yesterday in different registration stations in Kinondoni and Ilala districts found an influx of people waiting for registration.

The paper observed some of them filling forms for registration while others were being assisted by the officers.

Tasnim Simbamtoto said majority of people had thought that yesterday would be the last day of the exercise.

“If the situation continues this way, so many people will fail to register. I know many haven’t registered,” she said.

She appealed to NIDA to extend time for the exercise, saying there are many people who couldn’t manage to go for registration.

“For workers, their best time to go for registration is only at the weekend like today (yesterday) as we don’t go to work. But as I am speaking at this hour (15.00pm) I have not filled the application forms,” she noted.

Earlier, NIDA-AROs at Mlalakuwa local government office in Kinondoni, Eugene Salvatory and Rehema Mohamed said that the authority should think of giving more time for registration as now the response of people was positive after awareness campaign.

“But some have learnt from their colleagues who have already registered,” said Mohamed.

Last week The Guardian reported the possibility of NIDA extending the registration deadline due to an influx of people at the centres coupled with the slow form filling.

NIDA Information Officer, Thomas William was quoted confirming that there were plans to extend the registration time because of the influx.

“Although we are within the set timeframe, we still think that if people continue to flock to the centres as the deadline nears, we shall extend the time. The aim is to enable every Tanzanian above 18 years to obtain a National Identity Card,” he noted.