The Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, Lucia Iipumbu, stated that follow-up verification at the ministry's offices revealed that some individuals previously classified as stateless may be eligible for documentation through alternative means.

She was responding to a question from Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) Member of Parliament Vilho Ihemba, who wanted to know about the progress made in documenting stateless individuals.

Iipumbu said fewer than 1,000 people had been recorded under the statelessness category. She explained that the Stateless Bill had been submitted to legal drafters but was later withdrawn after concerns were raised by some community groups, including refugees and organisations responsible for refugees who have been in Namibia for an extended period.

“The stateless category itself has fewer than 1,000 records. The bill was submitted to the legal drafters but has since been withdrawn because concerns were raised by some sections of the community, including refugees and those responsible for refugees who have been in Namibia for quite some time. We have since incorporated those concerns, and the bill is being prepared to be sent back to the legal drafters.”

Iipumbu said the ministry would continue working to address the concerns before resubmitting the bill.