Government Emphasizes Legal Identity to Strengthen Services and the Digital Economy.

The Government of Tanzania has emphasized the importance of having a strong legal identity system, stating that identity is a key foundation for national development, security, and the growth of the digital economy.

The statement was made as Tanzania joined countries around the world in commemorating World Identity Day, observed every September 16, in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16.9 of the United Nations, which seeks to ensure that everyone has a legal identity, including birth registration, by 2030.

Speaking at the commemorations, the Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania, Dr. Mwigulu Lameck Nchemba, commended the Ministry of Home Affairs and the National Identification Authority (NIDA) for organizing and coordinating the event.

He said legal identity is not merely about possessing documents, but is a fundamental right that enables citizens to access various social and economic services, participate fully in the digital economy, and strengthen national protection and security.

The Government has stated that it has taken various measures to improve the NIDA system, including introducing identification cards with modern technology and high security standards.

During the 2022/2023 financial year, the Government allocated more than TSh 42.5 billion for NIDA development projects, including the construction of 31 registration offices and a central ICT service centre.

According to information presented during the commemorations, a total of 27,520,835 citizens have been registered, while 23,515,667 have already been issued with identification numbers.

In addition, a total of 21,526,635 identification cards have been produced, but more than 2,027,103 cards are still at NIDA district offices because they have not yet been collected by their owners.

The Government has urged citizens whose identification cards are ready to collect them from the relevant offices in order to avoid difficulties when they urgently need various services.

Government Investment in NIDA

For his part, the Minister of Home Affairs, Protas Katambi, said the Government has continued to invest in NIDA by improving infrastructure and the technology used for registration and the production of identification cards.

He said the investment has also included the provision of more than 20 vehicles and the upgrading of technological equipment used to produce highly secure identification cards.

The Minister urged citizens who have not yet registered to come forward and do so rather than waiting until they urgently need employment, financial services, or travel documents.

Meanwhile, NIDA Director General James Kaji said the Authority is in the process of upgrading the National Identification Card from having four features to nine features.

According to Kaji, the upgraded identification card is expected to contain various important social details, including information from a birth certificate, health insurance, Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), driving licence, and the citizen's blood group.

He said the improvements are intended to simplify access to services and reduce the need for citizens to carry multiple documents or cards when accessing different services.

Kaji said the Government, in collaboration with the Registration, Insolvency and Trusteeship Agency (RITA), has begun preparations for a pilot project to register children immediately after birth.

He said the pilot project covers three districts: Kinondoni, South Unguja, and Ruangwa, with the aim of ensuring that children obtain legal identity at an early age.

The Government is also continuing with plans to ensure that every Tanzanian has an identification number that can be used at different stages of their life.

Clarification on Jamii Namba

The Director General also clarified the meaning of Jamii Namba, stating that it is the same as the National Identification Number (NIN).

He said various social services will be accessible using this primary identification number, a measure aimed at connecting different Government systems and simplifying service delivery to citizens.

He also said NIDA is continuing discussions with the Ministry of Finance on linking the National Identification Card with payment systems in order to reduce the need for citizens to use multiple cards.

Call to Citizens

NIDA has urged citizens whose identification cards have already been produced to visit the relevant offices and collect them.

The Authority has also called on eligible citizens who have not yet been registered to come forward and obtain identification services early, while pledging to continue improving service delivery and the performance of its staff at district offices.

The commemorations were attended by various Government leaders, Members of Parliament, district commissioners, religious leaders, heads of security and defence institutions, and development partners, including UNICEF.

Participants continued to emphasize the importance of ensuring that no Tanzanian is left behind.