MPS OPPOSE REGISTRATION OF KIDS USING MUMS’ SURNAMES

LOBAMBA – Members of Parliament (MPs) have expressed outrage at the fact that unmarried women can register children using their maiden surname.

The legislators labelled this as unSwazi and said chiefs were not even aware that single women were now allowed to do this.
This was during a Motion without Notice moved by Manzini North MP Jan Sithole, who once again moved a motion that Birth, Marriage and Death certificates should be issued at Tinkhundla centres instead of the headquarters in Mbabane, which was much against the decentralisation policy.

Manzini South MP Owen Nxumalo submitted that he had been summoned by his chief to explain all the changes that the Ministry of Home Affairs was seemingly effecting.
“Now they want children to be registered in their mothers’ surnames and they are actually allowing this yet such changes were never communicated to us or to the chiefs,” said Nxumalo.

He was supported by Hlane MP George Maseko, who said this move would lead to more men denying paternity of their children.
“Why would I allow my child to be registered as a Nkhosi for example when I am a Maseko?” he wondered .

He said this new culture by the ministry would promote the culture of men disowning their children.
Matsanjeni North MP Phila Buthelezi said it was unheard of in Swaziland that a child would be registered using the mother’s surname whether they were married or not.

He said it was very unSwazi.
However, the Minister of Home Affairs, Princess Tsandzile, said it was in line with the law that the late registration of children was done at the headquarters particularly after two months of the birth of the child.

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