Meet Portia Sibanda — aged 33, a mother of two minor children from the rural community of Nyamandlovu in Umguza District, Zimbabwe. Portia's life has been a constant struggle, but nothing has been more challenging than attaining legal documents for herself and her minor children. Born through home delivery, Portia never had a birth certificate. Her parents were poor farmers who could not afford to provide a birth certificate or an identity card, and the registration office was far away. Portia's children faced the same challenge — she could not register them soon after birth.
Determined to provide her children a better future, Portia embarked on a journey to acquire legal documents for herself and her children. While seeking help at Nyamandlovu Rural District Hospital, she met Trinity Project officers during a sensitisation meeting. She was supported with free guidance to traverse the difficult registration process, prepared the required documents, and was accompanied to the Registrar's office. Portia was assisted to attain her birth certificate at Nyamandlovu Sub Office, and afterwards her identity card — though it remains a waiting-pass identity, and her birth certificate is hand-written.
After months of struggle, Trinity Project officers visited Portia at her rural home to check on the progress of her minor children's birth registration. Portia was overjoyed to see the team. She couldn't wait to share the good news — she ran into her hut and came out holding her children's birth certificates. It was the moment of triumph, but also a reminder of the many rural women and children who still lack the right to identity.
“It was the moment of triumph.”
Portia's story highlights the challenges encountered by rural women when attaining birth certificates — Portia ended up using her maiden name because the father of her minor children was not cooperating. Her achievement also shows the work that remains, to ensure that all rural women and children enjoy this fundamental human right.
