The exercise is a normal but necessary process to grant valid documentation to Zambian citizens as well as capture eligible voters for the upcoming presidential and any future elections.
It, therefore, should not and never be turned into a political charade.
Manoeuvres such as the recent parade by Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata at the registration offices in Lusaka only succeed in creating confusion and despondency among the applicants and those managing the process.
Admittedly, there may be delays but it has been explained that for security reasons and verification process, those applying must produce birth records and other documentation to ensure that the national registration cards (NRCs) do not end up in wrong hands.
The concern is understandable, especially that it is in times such as these that aliens and dangerous elements that may not mean well may take advantage of the loopholes to get Zambian registration cards.
Home Affairs Minister Lameck Mangani has made it very clear that the whole exercise is being done in good faith.
It is, therefore, crucial when dealing with matters of national security, that opposition leaders refrain from causing unnecessary alarm and making political capital of a straightforward registration exercise.
Especially that opposition political parties and different sections of society have been calling for continuous registration - an exercise which past governments that some opposition leaders have been a part have failed to do- and which the current administration, using its own resources has been able to do.
If the opposition is truly interested in seeing that people are not de-enfranchised, they should encourage their members to register or renew their cards, instead of playing the doomsayer.