THE NONSENSE OF CHANGING CHRONOLOGICAL AGE

The desperation of getting what they want is as shocking and appalling as it is evidently folly in some people. People have, and they can keep, their different reasons that compel them to want to change their or someone else’s chronological age. The pressures they have which they even exert on others might be real, but is that necessary? What is amazing in and for some is the sheer ignorance that it is actually a crime! If you ask me to quote you a Statute off the cuff I will not because my interest and goal is to bring the issue to the glaring arena of community awareness and refrain. The Penal Code Cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia, for example, forbids giving false information or obtaining anything by false pretenses. Even God’s Law, from which Statute is derived, forbids it. I thought this should be a community concern which a Community Radio station could facilitate discussion of, with participants from different walks of life.

 Now, someone I know has been priviledged to hear various individuals, even pairs in certain instances, wanting to reduce their age so they can qualify for some sponsorship or scholarship. The common scenario, according to my confidant, is when mothers and fathers want their children to start  first grade especially in government schools where there’s so much competition and somewhat firm age restriction. They go to a health centre or clinic and claim that their child’s under-five or postnatal card is lost and they need a replacement, and they increase the age by between 1 to 3 years. Without qualms, some parents make alterations on those cards or documents thinking they will get away with it. That may be tolerated at the schools but when it comes to obtaining Civil and National Identity Registration, it is a whole difficult level of reality to confront without the truth being established! A few disclose to officers that some years were added when obtaining the first National Registration Identity and they would now want the original or real age reflected on the document. Some will change their age by pretending to have lost their national identity documents and need to replace them. But it’s not as easy as that. Somewhere and at some point, by vigilant staff with an eye for detail and investigative mind, others are embarrassingly discovered and exposed. They, or someone else doing it on their behalf, had lied and changed their age. And as you might guess, that’s not the end; they are arrested and prosecuted.

The reality or truth is that age restriction is everywhere in the world. Yet shamelessly some people bribe just to falsify their age. It is unfortunate that some people think they deserve everything to go their way and that every opportunity is theirs to grab. Therefore, the extent they go to can be irreparably scandalous! And it oftentimes backfires soon or later. Some of us know or have heard about someone like that, some of whom are our relatives, friend of a friend, or simply someone in the community. A man or lady seeking a job is willing to pay a terribly hefty price, even going against their conscience. And when you look at the job, oh…the irony speaks for itself! The attempt and move to change your or someone else’s age is ridiculous; it does not make sense whatever the pressure or reason. Why not wait for the right time and avoid problems in the future? Officers approached by these would-be lawbreakers are even gracious to the extent that they only educate and sternly caution them. Upon probing, you could discover that they have inciters who one way or other would want to gain socially, materially, sexually, or financially.  However, the short-term glory is not worth the shame and trouble one would get into. It is important and good to be real; be who you are and let the children be. Otherwise you jeopardise your and their future prospects. My confidant told me about a lady who was doing well professionally and had secured a good scholarship abroad for academic advancement. “She seemed to be a good person too but had trouble reconciling her Civil Registration, National Identity records and academic certificates because of two different birth-dates. ’So I have been living a lie all these years sir?’ were the painful words she blurted,” he recalled. I have the insight that between the two of them, only she could honestly answer that question of unbelievable betrayal.

For children who start off with a lie, imagine what kind of pupils and students they would be or actually are. Picture what kind of workers and people young men and ladies would really be who get into employment with and through a lie. Parents and guardians should not abuse their power and/or responsibility. Children or boys and girls who are 16 years and above should not be naïve; you can speak out and save your parents or guardians from going to prison. You can obtain your Civil and National Registration document by lying but what good would it really be if either you or your parent or guardian or both of you are jailed? Registration and other officers beware too. Stand your ground, be professional, patriotic and resist being used. There are self-centred, unstable or tempting and Law-breaking psychos out there who are hell-bent on going to great lengths in order to get what they think they or their children deserve.