In Namibia, on the border with Botswana, residents received identity papers

The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration and Security has completed the distribution of duplicate ID cards to residents of the north-eastern Zambezi region living on the Chobe River border with Botswana, New Era LIVE reported on March 22.

The ministry’s initiative was prompted by a February 23, 2023 agreement between Namibian President Hage Geingob and Botswana President Mokgwitsi Masisi that citizens of Namibia and Botswana can travel between the two countries with new documents. of identity.

The promotion, which started on March 13, 2023, ended successfully last Friday. It concerned mainly Namibians living along the Chobe River so that they could travel to Botswana with new identification documents instead of a passport, which many of them did not apply for due to cost savings, as well as the remoteness of the corresponding offices. The certificates were delivered directly to the settlements.

The community praised the government for providing this service free of charge, reaching more than 1,000 people in the region.

However, Re-Lou Tapelo, the ministry’s administrative director, noted that they had run into problems, such as people from outside those particular areas coming to register. “However, we did not return anyone, we accept everyone”– he said.

Kenneth Munihango, an induna (chief) in Ibbu, the village that ended the identification drive, was grateful for the team sent by the ministry to help community members register.

“We have relatives in Botswana and now we can go there without any problem to get a passport, which is too expensive, but now they helped us get new ID cards for free.” – he said.

Isabelle Kwenani, a teacher at Ibbu, said getting a passport was difficult. “Now we can regularly visit our relatives in Botswana without having to worry about filling out our passports.”he said, adding that in addition to the distance, the long line in the city to obtain a passport was also a problem.

“Now the government has brought this service closer to us and I didn’t even have to queue for a long time”Kwenani said. Another Ibbu teacher, Joseph Simasiku, said the government listened to people’s requests.

“Now I am very happy, because this action did not cost me a penny. Not only was it free, but the services were close to the people and no one had to travel to the city.”– he said.

Source: Rossa Primavera