The civil registration for birth certificates and identity cards in the Zambezi Region is progressing well and has yielded positive results, especially for those who would not have any other means to reach the offices.

The civil registration outreach programme started in February and will continue until June unless there is a need to revisit certain areas that were not fully covered.

Dorothy Mubiana, the Civil Registration Deputy Director, explains the exercise:

The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security started with its outreach programme for the distribution of national documents in the Kavango East Region.

The programme aims to issue a national document to people in outlying areas who face challenges travelling to Rundu for services. 

The first outreach programme for 2024 started on February 19th and ended on March 4th.

The Angolan Consulate in Rundu is issuing consulate identification cards to its nationals who have been stateless in Namibia.

Kavango West's Ncamagoro Constituency Councillor, Thomas Rengi, initiated the process after realising the number of stateless persons was overwhelming.

A large number of Angolan nationals turned up for the one-week registration at the constituency office.

Those issued with the consulate cards are expected to apply for Angolan birth certificates and national identity cards for that country.

The Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security Deputy Minister is urging parents to ensure their children are issued birth certificates immediately after birth.

Dr Daniel Kashikola made the call during an outreach programme to issue birth certificates in the Ohangwena Region's remote rural areas.

Kashikola says undocumented children are a situation created by parents who do not have birth certificates issued for their children, depriving these children of their rights.