Staff Reporter
THE Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security has responded to an article published by a purported Angolan newspaper, Para Portuguese, under the headline “Registration of Angolan nationals may backfire”.
The article alleges that Namibian officials crossed the border into Angola earlier last month to issue Namibian identity documents to Angolan nationals at Ondjiva, in the Tuviticha building, supposedly to enable them to vote for SWAPO in 2024. It further claims that people were promised money after victory. The article also suggests that the news has provoked anger within local opposition parties.
Etienne Maritz, Executive Director at the Ministry of Home Affairs, stated that the Ministry wishes to clarify that the issuance of national documents falls within the sole mandate of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security, and is conducted in accordance with the relevant laws.
“Namibian national identity documents are only issued to Namibian citizens and permanent residents. The Ministry did not, at any point, delegate or authorize any official from the Ministry to carry out ID registration or issue identity documents to individuals beyond the borders of Namibia. Therefore, the information presented in the article is sensational, false, misleading, and malicious,” Maritz emphasized.
He further added that the Ministry views the article as mere propaganda intended to disseminate false information with the sole purpose of creating confusion and discontent among the citizens of Namibia. “The public is therefore urged to remain vigilant and not to entertain such misleading reports. Namibian citizens are hereby assured that the Ministry is fully committed to complying with the requirements of the Namibian Constitution and all other laws governing the administration of civil registration matters in our Republic,” Maritz concluded.
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