By Issa Yussuf

Zanzibar — THE National Identification Authority (NIDA) started issuing national identity cards to ordinary Zanzibaris aged 18 years and above.

The exercise started with 13 wards (shehia), including Bandamaji, Kinyasini, Kandwi, Pwani Mchangani, Kisongoni, Matemwe. Others are Kivunge, Mkwajuni, Kidombo, Kidoti, Moga, Gamba and Muwange, all in North A district.

Mr Vuai Mussa Suleiman, NIDA Director in Zanzibar office, said at a press briefing in Zanzibar yesterday that the distribution would gradually be extended to other areas so as to later cover all the islands.

"We ask citizens and noncitizens to be patient and stop grumbling. All eligible registered people will get identity cards," said Mr Suleiman, appealing for peace and stability during the exercise.

He said NIDA's target was to issue 682,202 identity cards, but so far only 561,530 people had been identified and registered for the IDs.

"Already 17,571 out of 39,688 civil servants in Zanzibar have been issued with the national identity cards. The process continues," said the NIDA director.

Mr Suleiman emphasised tolerance during the exercise to avoid unnecessary confrontation as witnessed during mass registration last year in which a death and injuries were reported.

He asked people in their respective areas to turn out and go to collect their IDs, stressing that one had to have a receipt issued by NIDA to collect the card.

Zanzibaris will now be required to have a Zanzibari Identification card (ZanID) issued since 2005 and the national identity card. NIDA plans to issue IDs to the majority of adult citizens before the 2015 general elections.

Source: allAfrica