time for birth registration, and that the 90 days (three months) after birth would be ample time for the registration of births. Respondents suggested that no penalty should be charged for delayed registration because currently the processes of birth registration are not complemented by efficient systems and procedures. The Legal Resources Foundation (LRF) believes that the legal framework was adequate but there appeared to be some problems at implementation level. According to 65 adult respondents (18%), the current legal framework is cumbersome. It was said that the Act was burdensome to surviving relatives of children whose parents are deceased because in Section 11 of BDRA, people such as the occupier of the house where the birth occurred, a headman, any major present at birth or any major as prescribed have the responsibility to register a birth. The relatives need to go through a process before acquiring guardianship. The Provincial Registrar in Bindura stated that the legal framework was adequate. On this issue the RG officials contended that the legal requirements were designed to protect the interests of minors. Some CPS officials are also of the view that the position of the RG’s office appears to be that of keeping or registering only bona fide Zimbabwean citizens. JCT continues to engage a wide range of stakeholders to continually review and discuss the laws governing birth registration in Zimbabwe as part of their lobbying and advocacy programme. 4.4 Socio-economic factors affecting Birth Registration Due to economic difficulties often people can not afford to travel with several witnesses. Sometimes non-payment of maternity fees leads mothers to leaving hospitals without being issued birth notification records. It was said that to compound this economic challenge, it was said that clinics demanded a search fee for a birth record and then the proper fee is required for the issuance of the birth record document. However, this allegation could not be ascertained during the research. A major socio-economic issue noted during the research related to the sponsorship of witnesses to the registration centres by way of paying for their bus fares, accommodation and food. Most respondents argued that it was very expensive for them to travel to registration centres with two witnesses, in situations where relatives wanted to assist some minors to obtain birth certificates. 4.5 Social and cultural factors affecting Birth Registration The Guardianship of Minors Act [5:08] makes the father the natural guardian of a child and the mother the natural custodian, unless an application is made in court and granted. In Section 12 of the BDRA, mothers can register their children on their own using their maiden surnames. However, some were reluctant to do this in fear of possible cultural and traditional repercussions in Birth Registration Research Report/2007 36