Eugenia Moche
The government’s plan to introduce digital identification documents has raised questions about whether citizens’ personal data will be safe and whether the public trusts government institutions enough to embrace the system.
The ministry of home affairs, immigration, safety and security confirmed earlier this year that electronic identity cards (e-IDs) will be rolled out in September 2026 under the Civil Registration and Identification Act of 2024.
The new e-IDs will store biometric and demographic information, including fingerprints and photos, and are expected to be used across public and private services.
However, global cases show how vulnerable such systems can be. Sweden’s BankID was breached in March this year, with millions of passport and ID numbers exposed in the hack.
A Sophos report released earlier this year found that 71% of organisations worldwide experienced identity-related breaches, with many incidents leading to ransomware and financial losses.
Namibia’s cybersecurity readiness remains uncertain and may not yet be strong enough to withstand similar attacks.
Beyond technical risks, public trust is the biggest challenge. Many Namibians say they have not received clear information about how their data will be collected, stored, and used.
“Do we really know who will have access to our information?” asked one Namibian citizen.
Namibia’s Civil Registration and Identification Act of 2024 paved the way for electronic IDs, with government officials confirming rollout plans in 2026.
However, Namibia’s fragile digital infrastructure adds another layer of concern. Cascading outages in April 2026 left Telecom Namibia services down nationwide for two days. Such disruptions raise questions about whether e-IDs will remain reliable during crises.
“Imagine needing to go to the hospital or bank during a blackout, and the system is down. What happens then?” asked a concerned citizen, Emily Johannes.
The debate also comes as mobile data costs rise. MTC recently announced price increases for its popular Aweh packages, sparking fears that digital services could become unaffordable for many.
Reliable and affordable internet access is seen as a requirement for digital identification systems.
“If I can barely afford Aweh every month, how about the people that are not as privileged?” asked Johannes.
Other African countries provide cautionary examples. In Kenya, the Huduma Namba digital ID project faced backlash over privacy concerns and lack of consultation.
Nigeria’s national ID system has been criticised for excluding rural populations.
Authorities have yet to announce a full timeline for implementation. Critics say that Namibia must learn from these experiences by ensuring transparency, gradual implementation, and citizen choice.
They emphasised that digital IDs should be optional and not mandatory until trust and security are guaranteed. Without these protections, they warn, convenience could quickly turn into vulnerability.
