Immigration is one of the defining public policy challenges of the modern world. From Europe and North America to Africa, governments are grappling with how to protect national interests while remaining faithful to constitutional values, international obligations and human dignity.
Namibia is no exception. Rising unemployment, economic stagnation and growing public frustration have inevitably brought questions about immigration, work permits and border control into sharper focus.
The latest exchange between former Prime Minister Nahas Angula and NUDO parliamentarian Vetaruhe Kandorozu reflects a debate that deserves serious national attention. However, it also reminds us that how a nation discusses immigration is just as important as the policies it ultimately adopts.
There should be no controversy over one fundamental principle: every sovereign state has both the right and the obligation to regulate who enters its borders, who works within its economy and who qualifies for residence or citizenship. Immigration laws exist for precisely this reason. If those laws are being violated, government institutions must act decisively and consistently.
On this point, Angula’s position deserves careful consideration. His assertion that Namibia is governed by law and that immigration violations should be handled by the relevant authorities reinforces an essential democratic principle. When enforcement shifts from institutions to public mobilisation against particular groups of people, the line between legitimate civic activism and vigilantism becomes dangerously thin.
That does not mean the concerns being expressed by Kandorozu should simply be dismissed.
Namibia faces one of the highest unemployment rates in the world, particularly among young people. Every Namibian who spends years searching unsuccessfully for work naturally questions whether foreign workers are occupying positions that locals could perform. Such concerns resonate emotionally because they touch directly on livelihoods and economic security.
Governments cannot expect citizens to remain indifferent when they perceive opportunities slipping away.
Yet perception and reality are not always identical.
Before sweeping conclusions are drawn, Namibia needs credible evidence. Which sectors genuinely suffer from excessive dependence on foreign labour? Are employers recruiting foreigners because suitable local skills are unavailable? Are work permits being issued in accordance with existing legislation? Are labour inspections sufficiently rigorous? These are questions that require facts rather than slogans.
If immigration regulations are being abused, investigations should expose the failures. If employers are circumventing labour laws to employ undocumented workers at lower wages, penalties should follow. If officials are improperly issuing permits, accountability must be enforced.
The answer lies in stronger governance, not stronger rhetoric.
Namibia can also draw valuable lessons from developments elsewhere on the continent.
South Africa’s recurring anti-immigrant protests demonstrate how quickly economic frustrations can evolve into hostility against entire communities. Although many demonstrations begin peacefully, history shows that anti-foreigner sentiment has repeatedly escalated into violence, destruction of property and loss of innocent lives. Businesses have been looted, neighbourhoods destabilised and diplomatic relationships strained.
The greatest tragedy is that such violence rarely addresses the structural problems that sparked public anger in the first place.
Unemployment remains high. Economic inequality persists. Public services continue to face pressure.
The targets change, but the underlying challenges remain.
Namibia should avoid travelling that same path.
The country’s liberation history also carries important lessons. During the struggle for independence, many African countries welcomed Namibian refugees, trained freedom fighters and provided diplomatic support. That history does not mean Namibia should abandon immigration controls. Rather, it reminds us that today’s policy debates should never descend into hostility toward people based solely on their nationality.
A nation can enforce its borders firmly while treating all people with dignity.
These are not contradictory principles.
At the same time, government cannot rely solely on appeals for calm. Public confidence depends upon visible and effective administration.
The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security therefore carries a significant responsibility. Immigration systems must be transparent, efficient and credible. Citizens should have confidence that visas and work permits are issued according to objective criteria, not favouritism or administrative weakness.
Equally, employers should be required to demonstrate genuine efforts to recruit qualified Namibians before specialised foreign workers are approved where appropriate.
Many countries operate labour market tests that balance economic needs with local employment priorities. Such mechanisms deserve continuous review to ensure they remain effective under changing economic conditions.
Immigration policy should also be integrated with education and skills development.
If industries repeatedly argue that specialised expertise cannot be found locally, government, educational institutions and the private sector should collaborate to produce those skills domestically. Over time, Namibia should become less dependent on imported expertise not through exclusion, but through investment in its own people.
That approach offers a far more sustainable solution than periodic public outrage.
Political leaders also bear a special responsibility in moments like these.
Public representatives enjoy significant influence over national discourse. Their words shape public attitudes, particularly on emotionally charged issues involving identity, employment and national belonging. Strong political leadership requires acknowledging legitimate frustrations while avoiding language that may unintentionally inflame tensions or stigmatise entire communities.
The immigration debate deserves nuance.
Illegal immigration should never be normalised.
Neither should xenophobia.
Both undermine the rule of law.
Ultimately, Namibia faces a policy challenge rather than a political slogan. Citizens deserve effective immigration management, fair labour practices and greater employment opportunities. Foreign nationals who comply with Namibian law deserve protection from intimidation or discrimination. Those who violate immigration laws should face lawful consequences through established institutions.
The Windhoek Observer believes these objectives are entirely compatible.
Namibia’s strength has always rested on its constitutional order and its commitment to resolving disputes through democratic institutions rather than public confrontation. As economic pressures mount, that commitment will be tested repeatedly.
This is precisely when the country must resist the temptation to substitute emotion for evidence or frustration for policy. Immigration reform may well be necessary. Better enforcement may certainly be required. But the solutions must emerge from Parliament, the courts, law enforcement agencies and competent public administration, not from movements that risk dividing communities and weakening the very rule of law upon which Namibia’s democracy depends.
A confident nation protects both its borders and its values. Namibia must continue to do both.
