Niël Terblanché
The Namibian government has taken steps to address issues of statelessness and improve civil registration processes through two new pieces of legislation.
These include the Civil Registration and Identification Act, 2024, and the Regularisation of Status of Certain Residents of Namibia, Their Descendants and Foreign Spouses Act, 2024.
On Thursday, the executive director of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, Etienne Maritz, announced these developments, while reiterating their importance for national identity management and human rights.
“These Acts reflect Namibia’s commitment to addressing critical issues of identity and statelessness while ensuring that all residents are documented and accounted for,” Maritz said.
He added that the Civil Registration and Identification Act, gazetted on 30 December 2024, combines several older laws, including the Births, Marriages and Deaths Registration Act of 1963 and the Identification Act of 1996.
It provides a comprehensive framework for the notification and registration of vital events such as births, deaths, and divorces, along with the management of identity processes like name changes and issuing identity documents.
“This Act is a key step in modernising Namibia’s civil registration system to make it more inclusive and efficient. It consolidates existing laws to streamline identity management processes,” he said.
He added that while the Act has been signed into law, it is yet to come into force, pending the finalisation of its regulations. Until then, the older laws it seeks to replace will remain in effect.
Maritz urged citizens to familiarise themselves with the provisions of the new legislation, which can be accessed online.
“We want all Namibians to understand the changes this Act introduces. It’s not just a law; it’s a tool for empowerment and transparency,” he added.
Complementing this legislation is the Regularisation of Status of Certain Residents of Namibia Act, 2024. Signed into law on 2 October 2024, this Act aims to regularise the status of holders of the old South West Africa Identity Documents (SWA IDs) who have not been able to obtain Namibian citizenship due to technicalities in meeting existing requirements.
“This Act addresses a specific group of people who, despite their long-standing residence in Namibia, have faced challenges in obtaining citizenship. It’s a solution rooted in fairness and equity,” he explained.
He added that the Act will also extend its benefits to the descendants of the old SWA ID holders and their foreign spouses.
According to Maritz, it is a time-bound initiative, valid for five years, although provisions exist for an extension if necessary.
“This legislation is a demonstration of the government’s commitment to eradicating statelessness in line with the Harambee Prosperity Plan II,” he said.
He added that to support the implementation of these laws, the ministry is also working on a Statelessness Determination and Protection Bill, aimed at assisting stateless individuals without SWA IDs.
Maritz noted the urgency of this initiative and said: “We hope to table this bill in Parliament within the 2025 calendar year.”
In this regard, he called on all affected individuals to engage with the new processes and for service providers to continue recognising SWA ID cards until all statuses are regularised.
“This is a collective effort. We need cooperation from all stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition and successful implementation,” he said.
