WINDHOEK: The government has taken steps to ensure that Namibians who still possess the old South West Africa identification documents (SWA IDs) are able to obtain citizenship.

Statistics from the Namibia Statistics Agency indicated that in 2016, approximately 5 000 individuals still possessed SWA IDs.

Home Affairs Minister Albert Kawana tabled the Regularisation of Status of Certain Residents of Namibia, Their Descendants, and Foreign Spouses Bill in the National Assembly on Monday.

‘The Bill is aimed at regularising the status of holders of South West Africa identification documents who are unable to acquire Namibian citizenship under the current legislative framework, their descendants and their foreign spouses,’ Kawana said in his motivation for the Bill.

Namibians that still have the old IDs that they got before independence face legal challenges in obtaining citizenship, the minister said.

For instance they could submit a police clearance certificate from their country of origin as required by Sect
ion 5(1)(d) of the Namibian Citizenship Act of 1990.

‘These people have lived in Namibia all along, have not returned to their supposed countries of origin since they arrived in Namibia and would therefore not have records in their countries of origin,’ Kawana explained.

Those who possess SWA IDs are also unable to take advantage of the 10-year permanent residence permit or renounce their citizenship in their country of origin, as mandated by the Namibian Citizenship Act.

‘The category of persons who are affected have been in Namibia since before independence and have no other home except Namibia. Some arrived in Namibia in 1978, making their residence in Namibia close to 50 years,’ Minister Kawana said.

Records indicate that 600 000 ID cards were issued between 1979 and 1990. However, the majority of SWA ID holders have been issued with Namibian IDs since 1990.

Once passed into law, it will affect individuals who are residents of Namibia, possess valid SWA IDs, and have been residents since the date of
document issuance and are not citizens.

Their descendants and foreign spouses will also be able to acquire Namibian citizenship, according to Kawana.

Source : The Namibia News Agency