By: Loise Shiimi
Kavango West residents will no longer have to travel 140 kilometres to Rundu for Home Affairs and Immigration services.
The region inaugurated its regional office of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security on Thursday, which was officiated by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
The office was established to enable residents to access a wide range of services locally, eliminating the need for long-distance travel.
According to Home Affairs stats for the northern region, the birth rate increased from 67.3% in 2016 to 77.1%, according to the 2023 Population and Housing Census.
During the official opening ceremony, President Nandi-Ndaitwah commented on the growth, noting that while it reflects meaningful growth, the national average still stands at 86.8 percent.
“I believe that with this new office, Kavango West will be able to close this gap. Although the national average of 86.8% is commendable, the remaining 13.2% represents a substantial number that cannot be overlooked,” she stated.
She underscored that universal registration is a primary goal and that legal identity is a fundamental right for every Namibian citizen.
“Namibia is a member of the United Nations, which advocates for the documentation of citizens worldwide. It is imperative that we identify and dismantle the barriers preventing all our citizens from obtaining their legal identities. We must achieve comprehensive civil registration,” the President urged.
Nandi-Ndaitwah also reflected on Article 15 of the Namibian Constitution, which enshrines every child’s right to a name at birth and the right to acquire nationality.
“These rights can only be acknowledged if the vital event of birth is recorded accurately and promptly. I sincerely hope that every child born in Namibia enjoys these constitutional rights,” she remarked.
Addressing community challenges, she highlighted the persistent issue of late birth registration, particularly instances where registration occurs more than 12 months after a child’s birth.
“Every child must be registered promptly at birth. I therefore urge all parents to register their newborns without delay, in order to avoid the significant complications that arise from late birth verification processes,” added the President.
To support this initiative, the President announced that the government has implemented measures to facilitate timely birth registration. These include the establishment of hospital-based registration offices and provisions allowing mothers to register their children under their own surnames when the father is absent.
“Mothers, do not leave the hospital without registering your baby; absent fathers are no longer an excuse for failing to register. There are no fees involved. The law explicitly permits the later inclusion of the father’s details, and the child’s surname can be amended once the father becomes available,” she explained.
Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Lucia Iipumbu spoke to the significance of the new office in Kavango West, describing it as a testament to the government’s unwavering commitment to infrastructure development as a catalyst for social and economic progress.
Iipumbu further noted that having a Home Affairs office in the region reflects the determination to ensure that vital events, such as births, marriages, divorces, and deaths, are recorded accurately and promptly.
Moreover, essential citizenship and immigration services, including passports and permits, are made readily accessible to the residents of the region.
“This facility provides a conducive working environment for staff and a dignified setting for public service, limiting our people from the hardship of receiving assistance under harsh weather conditions,” she added.
