MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT APPRECIATE IDENTITY CARDS

 
Members of Parliament have expressed their appreciation to the introduction of the National Identity Cards in the country for Lesotho citizens. One of the parliamentarians Mr. Peete Peete of the Proportional Representation in the National Assembly on Wednesday said the identity cards would reduce among others, costs that are incurred during voters' registration that is normally held before general elections. Mr. Peete said when identity cards are operational there would be no need to engage on voters' registration as identity cards would be permanent means of identification in the country.

Mr. Peete Peete MP expressed his strong support to the National Identity Cards Bill 2003,whose debate is still continuing in the National Assembly, saying even though he is supportive, there are some provisions of the bill that need to be reviewed before the bill becomes the law. In this regard, he considered the penalties that are contained within bill as being too heavy for Lesotho citizens, particularly as the bill does not state as to whether a person shall be given chance to prove if he or she is in possession of the identity card, affirming that the law is not meant to harm but to keep order.

He was referring to the provision of the bill, which stipulates that failure to produce an identity card to a member of police or any authorized person on demand, it is considered as an offence, and such person is liable to a fine of not less than M10 000 or to imprisonment for a period of not less than five years or to both. He maintained that the bill should specify as to how much time a person is expected to produce such card failing which such person can then be considered as having committed an offence.

Speaking in the National Assembly, a Member of Parliament for Butha-Buthe constituency Mr. Motlohi Maliehe has suggested that the identity cards that would be issued for Basotho should be different from those that might be issued for non-citizens to enable Basotho to be given the first priority for services.

Among others, the bill stipulates that a person, who furnishes false information either verbally or in writing on applying for an identity card, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of not less than
M25 000 or to imprisonment for a period of not less than 15 years or to both. Meanwhile the discussion on the National Identity Cards Bill is still continuing.

22 September 2003