MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS AND PUBLIC SAFETY

PRESS RELEASE

10 November 2008

NATIONAL ID CARD SYSTEM FOR LESOTHO DEVELOPED

The final stakeholders’ consultation workshop on the feasibility and design of Lesotho National Identification Card project will be held in Maseru on November 24, 2008. The workshop will be facilitated by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Public Safety and parliamentary affairs.

The Identity Document, will uniquely identify individuals with among others fingerprinting, and its security features will comply with international trends, standards and best practices.

Stakeholders involved in this initiative include the private sector, interest groups and a wide variety of governmental organizations and departments. These stakeholders were interviewed individually and high-level investigations were conducted into the activities of various key players that may impact on, or benefit from the National Identity Card Solution.

Implementation of the ID solution will support the establishment of a Credit Bureau in Lesotho, facilitate free movement of persons across the border, and the freedom of gender groups to enter into contract negotiations and financial transactions.

Many other countries in Africa such as South-Africa, Rwanda, Swaziland and Tanzania are currently implementing their National Identity Card Solutions, but Lesotho is taking the lead in Africa in exploring the possibility of Cross-Border acceptance of the identity card. Elsewhere in Africa, these initiatives are still just being muted. Many African countries will therefore look up to Lesotho as a role model in this initiative.

The feasibility study and the design of the National ID project is part of the Immigration and Passport Services Reform component of the World Bank funded Private Sector Competitiveness and Economic Diversification Project (PSCP) whose goal is to improve the business environment, reduce the costs of doing business in Lesotho and diversify the economy.

The Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) has already committed funds for the implementation of the National ID Card System.

Ends.

For more information contact:
Mahalieo Nyanguru
Ministry of Home Affairs and Public Safety
Telephone:2232 4093
Email: mahalieokn2006@yahoo.com