Namibia deports foreigners as the country grows in popularity

DURING the past financial year 1 418 illegal immigrants had to leave Namibia, while about the same number of people obtained Namibian citizenship in that period.

Introducing the N$174,2 million budget vote of the Home Affairs and Immigration Ministry on Friday, Minister Rosalia Nghidinwa said the illegal immigrants were either deported or instructed to leave Namibia within 48 hours.
Several border posts were being fully computerised to manage the movement of persons, the Minister said.

Of the 1 534 people who were granted Namibian citizenship last year, 1 175 were citizens by descent and the majority of them were young Namibians born in exile.
Citizenship was granted to 109 persons through naturalisation, 146 by marriage to a Namibian and 104 became Namibians by registration.
Currently there are 7 200 refugees and 1 450 asylum seekers in Namibia.
The conversion of manual population records to digital format had started, Nghidinwa said.

There are still about 900 Namibians in the Dukwe refugee camp in Botswana, where they had fled during the failed Caprivi secessionist attempt in August 1999. Efforts were ongoing to make them return home.
During the last financial year, the Ministry opened 11 sub-regional offices where people can obtain national documents.

These are at Aminuis, Otjombinde, Omaruru, Kamanjab, Khorixas, Chetto, Linyanti, Impalila Island, Omungwelume, Okakarara  and Okahao.
“We plan to open Okanguati in Kunene, Karibib, Omuthiya, Outjo, Okahandja and Ndiyona and hopefully in the long term have sub-regional offices in all 107 constituencies,” Nghidinwa said.

Last year the Ministry produced 186 597 ID documents and processed 81 309 birth certificates.
The Ministry started registration of births at some hospitals last year.
Registration had been expanded to six more hospitals and would be extended to all regional and district hospitals Nghidinwa said.
The Ministry would also expand the registration of deaths to hospitals, health centres and traditional authorities.

Home Affairs and Immigration generated an income of N$44,8 million from fees for visas and permits during the last financial year.
The Ministry issued 6 138 employment permits, 59 368 work/business, study and holiday visas, and 45 permanent residence permits. About 3 205 people were granted temporary residence permits and 9 458 student permits were issued.

Credit: www.namibian.com.na