Niël Terblanché
The Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security, Lucia Iipumbu, met with the Department of Immigration Control and Citizenship on Wednesday as part of her ongoing series of familiarisation visits aimed at aligning government departments with national development goals.
During the engagement, Iipumbu placed emphasis on modernising immigration operations and enhancing service delivery.
She praised the continued rollout of the Namibia-Botswana bilateral agreement, which enables citizens of both countries to travel using national identity cards.
“This arrangement has facilitated easier movement of people and goods, particularly at 24-hour border posts, thereby strengthening trade and regional cooperation,” she said.
She urged public servants to act with discipline and integrity.
“Do your work delightfully and diligently, and in line with the legal frameworks that govern us. Do not bend the rules,” she said, reminding officials of the weight their responsibilities carry in shaping public trust.
Iipumbu also encouraged the department to embrace digital transformation, noting the urgency of preparing for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
She urged officials to expand the availability of online services and to simplify and standardise immigration application forms to improve efficiency.
On regional security, Iipumbu addressed growing concerns over the movement of unaccompanied Angolan minors across the northern border.
She proposed the establishment of a dedicated centre to care for and manage the cases of these children in a humane and structured manner.
“We must work in collaboration with the Namibian Police and other agencies to manage cross-border activity more effectively,” she said.
She added that the ministry intends to drive a culture of professionalism and adaptability, as the various departments within it respond to evolving national and regional needs.
