Ministry urges citizens to collect IDs

Approximately 130 000 identity documents (IDs) are gathering dust at home affairs offices nationwide because individuals fail to collect them.

To address this issue, the home affairs ministry has declared this week national ID Week, during which uncollected ID cards will be distributed to designated centres across the country to make it easier for people to collect them.

"Regional authorities were involved in identifying ideal locations for ID card collection and to communicate the campaign through community meetings and local radio stations," the ministry said in a statement.

"We urge all Namibians to visit their local collection centres and promptly collect their identity cards."

During the week, some regions will also offer birth registrations and process applications for both IDs and duplicate documents.

Know your identity

As part of ID Week, the ministry also aims to raise awareness and promote dialogue around the key dimensions of legal identity.

"Verifiable proof of identity is of crucial importance, and uncollected IDs undermine this fundamental right," said the ministry’s executive director, Etienne Maritz.

The government, through the home affairs ministry, launched a nationwide mass registration campaign that took place from 5 February to 31 July this year.

The initiative was aimed at bringing the registration of birth certificates and identity documents closer to the people. The ministry recently announced that more than 110 000 people were reportedly reached through this campaign and made use of the ministry’s services.

The campaign also included undocumented residents who do not meet current requirements for national documents.

"These individuals, who are potentially stateless, are being recorded in a functional register while awaiting upcoming legislation to address statelessness, which is an important step toward regulating their status and promoting social progress," Maritz noted.