Immigration – Windhoek Observer

30 Mar

Travel to Botswana made even easier

ObserverNational NewsExecutive Director of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs Executive Director Etienne Maritz, Safety and Security, Travel to Botswana made even easier

Niël Terblanché Namibians wishing to travel to Botswana will, from 1 April 2023 be able to do so for 24 hours per day. This is according to a notice released by the Executive Director of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, Etienne Maritz, who said that the 24-hour Operation of the Trans-Kalahari and Mamuno border crossing points will be officially launched by Minister Albert Kawana and his counterpart from Botswana, Peggy Serame, on Saturday. In this regard, transport companies and travelers alike are requested to temporarily cease the movement of trucks and private vehicles from 08:00 and…

27 Jul

Kawana irked by unscrupulous senior officers

ObserverNational NewsImmigration, Kawana irked by unscrupulous senior officers, Minister of Home Affairs, Namibian Police Force, Safety and Security, unscrupulous behaviour among senior police officers

Obrein Simasiku The Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, Albert Kawana is seriously concerned about what he observes as an unscrupulous behaviour among senior police officers who engage in criminal activities by stealing and aiding criminals to steal firearms and other government properties. Kawana castigated the officers for running to the media to air their grievances deliberately avoiding existing internal channels, which have set rules of how to deal with any such concerns. “I am concerned about the deteriorating level of discipline among members of the Namibian Police Force, regrettably including some senior officers. Although these elements are…

09 Jul

Auditor General not taken seriously

ObserverOpinionsAuditor General not taken seriously, Immigration, Ministry of Health and Social Services, Ministry of Home Affairs, Safety and Security as well as State House

Accounting officers at government ministries, including State House are failing to implement recommendations and advice by the Auditor General in his audit reports. This is becoming a cause for concern as the same recommendation and observations are made by the Auditor General over some years. While the Auditor General is doing commendable work in thoroughly auditing the finances of government, it goes to waste if his recommendations are simply ignored. In three financial reports tabled by the Auditor General in the National Assembly recently, the AG repeatedly express concern over recommendation that were made in previous reports not implemented. The…

26 Nov

Namibians flock to Home Affairs for new look ID

ObserverObserver MoneyEtienne Maritz, Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Safety and Security (MHAISS)

Tujoromajo Kasuto The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security (MHAISS), has expressed with great concern the influx of members of the public who have been flooding their offices over the last weeks to exchange their current IDs with the new one after its launch last Tuesday. MHAISS Executive Director (ED), Etienne Maritz, in a statement issued today reiterates that there is no need for anyone to exchange her/his ID with the new-look ID, as the current ID remains valid. Only newly issued IDs, including duplicates, will be in the new format. First-time applications for IDs will remain free…

14 Nov

Home Affairs Ministry ordered to fork out N$50 000 in assault damages for trans women

ObserverObserver MoneyImmigration, Mercedez Von Cloete, Minister of Home Affairs, Safety and Security

Tujoromajo Kasuto The Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security has today been ordered by High Court Judge Esi Schimming- Chase to pay N$50, 000 in damages to a transgender woman, Mercedez Von Cloete, after she was unlawfully arrested and experienced police brutality on July 6, 2017, in Windhoek. Von Cloete had initially sued the minister for N$ 200 000 for psychological shock, trauma, inconvenience and discomfort suffered as a result of the unlawful arrest and assault by a police officer only identified as Kavari." Von Cloete at court today expressed her relief and joy at the final delivery…

05 Aug

Lühl’s citizenship court case postponed

ObserverObserver MoneyImmigration, inistry of Home Affairs, LGBTQ+, Namibia, Phillip Lühl, Safety and Security (MHAISS)

Tujoromajo Kasuto Judgment in the case of a Namibian citizen, Phillip Lühl, against the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security (MHAISS) on the discrimination of the right to citizenship for children of LGBTQ+ parents, has been post postponed to 13 October 2021. Lühl is requesting the High Court to declare that his son, born in 2019, through surrogacy in South Africa, a Namibian citizen by descent. However, the MHAISS is denying citizenship without proof of genetic linkage. Lühl states that, “the only reason why the Ministry of Home Affairs [is] refusing to accept the birth certificate is the…

19 May

Ministry not backing down on court challenge

ObserverObserver MoneyEtienne Maritz, Executive Director of Home Affairs, Immigration, Minister of Home Affairs, Safety and Security

Staff Writer The Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security says it’s not backing down from legal challenges currently before courts after it issued travel documents to twin daughters of same sex couple Phillip, Guillermo Delgado. Executive Director of Home Affairs, Etienne Maritz, was quick to point out that, “the issued travel certificates do not confer Namibian citizenship on the twins and the issuance must not be construed to be a concession on the Minister's part that the twins are Namibian citizens.” The travel documents were issued after an applications for emergency travel certificates were received at the Namibian…

03 Dec

Namibia opens three border posts with Botswana

ObserverObserver MoneyBotswana Defence Force (BDF), Frans Kapofi, Immigration, Minister of Home Affairs, Safety and Security

Clifton Movirongo Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, Frans Kapofi on Wednesday announced the re-opening of three border points with Botswana, namely the Trans-Kalahari, Ngoma and Mohembo posts. “In terms of Regulations 8(3) (b) of the Public Health COVID-19 General Regulations: Public and Environmental Health Act 2015, I hereby designate the following ports of entry into and departure from Namibia, subject to applicable Health Regulations, effective immediately,” Kapofi said. The move by the Home Affairs ministry comes after the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) killing of the three Namibian brothers, Tommy, Martin and Wamunyima Nchindo, along with another Zambian…

26 Aug

Tourism revival measures announced

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Forestry and Tourism, Immigration, Minister of Health and Social Services, Minister of Home Affairs, Ministry of Environment, Safety and Security

Staff Writer The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has announced protocols guiding the international tourism revival initiative which comes into effect next month. The initiative is a government plan aimed at providing a lifeline to the country’s tourism sector which is on the verge of collapse due to the closure of the borders as part of measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. This announcement comes after two failed attempts by government to open the borders to international tourist arrivals due to increases in infection rates in different parts of the country. In addition, the working group of the…