Staff Reporter
PRESIDENT Hage Geingob called on the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security to accelerate the issuance of work and business permits to create a conducive environment for foreign nationals who have essential skills that can benefit the country.
“Namibia, like any other country that is at a developmental stage, needs skills. Sometimes these skills cannot be found locally. Therefore, we welcome, not only tourists, but individuals who have essential skills that should assist our developmental objectives,” he said.
Geingob said this at the inauguration of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security’s Headquarters, which will be known as the Dr Hifikepunye Pohamba Building. The building was named after Former President Hifikepunye Pohamba because he served as the country’s first Minister of Home Affairs after independence.
INAUGERATED: President Hage Geingob inaugurated the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security’s Headquarters, which will be known as the Dr Hifikepunye Pohamba Building. Photo: Namibian Presidency. 
INAUGERATED: President Hage Geingob inaugurated the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security’s Headquarters, which will be known as the Dr Hifikepunye Pohamba Building. Photo: Namibian Presidency.
Besides speeding up the issuance of work and business permits, Geingob urged the ministry’s staff to work towards improving service delivery overall. He added that the Dr Hifikepunye Pohamba Building provides a conducive working environment that allows for excellent service delivery.
“Remember that you will be working in this building in order to render efficient service delivery to our citizens and foreigners. Therefore, you should adopt a service culture, defined by a commitment to excellence. Our citizens deserve nothing, but efficient service delivery from this beautiful building. No more excuses. Our government, through the Ministry of Home Affairs, Safety and Security, has created a conducive working environment for you. Use it,” the president said.
Geingob also acknowledged that the ministry’s service delivery has significantly improved over the years. He explained that at independence, almost all civil registration records were in South Africa, which made service delivery slow. He said that the waiting period for national documents has drastically reduced since then, adding that this is a remarkable achievement that “compares favourably with international standards”.
Geingob said that the significant improvement of the ministry’s service delivery is a result of concerted efforts that were spearheaded by pioneers in the ministry such as the former president, Pohamba.
This was reaffirmed by Pohamba, who said that the building is recognition of the hard work that was carried out by him and his team during the establishment of the ministry after independence.
Pohamba explained that “nothing existed” at the time when Namibia transitioned to an independent country. According to him, there were just a few, separated departments that strictly controlled the movement of black people, and now the Ministry of Home Affairs is a cornerstone of peace, safety and security as well as a protector of democracy.
