No IDs issued in Angola, Maritz says
The home affairs and immigration ministry has dismissed allegations that Namibian officials issued Angolan nationals with identity documents (IDs) in Ondjiva, Angola, as false and malicious.
According to executive director Etienne Maritz, these claims were made in an Angolan newspaper.
“The article states that there are Namibian officials who crossed the border into Angola last month to issue Namibian IDs to Angolan nationals with the aim to apparently allow them to vote for Swapo in 2024.”
Maritz said the article further stated that people were promised money after Swapo’s victory, and that this news has sparked anger among local opposition parties.
False and misleading
“The ministry wants to put on record that the issuance of national documents is a sole mandate of the ministry and is done within the applicable laws.”
He stressed that Namibian national IDs are only issued to Namibian citizens and permanent residents.
“The ministry at no point delegated or authorised any official from the ministry to do ID registration or issue IDs to people beyond the borders of Namibia. The information in the article is therefore sensational, false, misleading and malicious.”
Maritz said the ministry regards the article as mere propaganda aimed at spreading false information with the sole purpose of causing confusion and discontent among Namibians.
“The public is therefore cautioned to be vigilant and not to entertain these kinds of misleading reports.”
He further assured Namibians that the ministry is fully committed to complying with the requirements of the Namibian Constitution and all other laws of the country governing the administration of civil registration matters.
According to executive director Etienne Maritz, these claims were made in an Angolan newspaper.
“The article states that there are Namibian officials who crossed the border into Angola last month to issue Namibian IDs to Angolan nationals with the aim to apparently allow them to vote for Swapo in 2024.”
Maritz said the article further stated that people were promised money after Swapo’s victory, and that this news has sparked anger among local opposition parties.
False and misleading
“The ministry wants to put on record that the issuance of national documents is a sole mandate of the ministry and is done within the applicable laws.”
He stressed that Namibian national IDs are only issued to Namibian citizens and permanent residents.
“The ministry at no point delegated or authorised any official from the ministry to do ID registration or issue IDs to people beyond the borders of Namibia. The information in the article is therefore sensational, false, misleading and malicious.”
Maritz said the ministry regards the article as mere propaganda aimed at spreading false information with the sole purpose of causing confusion and discontent among Namibians.
“The public is therefore cautioned to be vigilant and not to entertain these kinds of misleading reports.”
He further assured Namibians that the ministry is fully committed to complying with the requirements of the Namibian Constitution and all other laws of the country governing the administration of civil registration matters.
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