Staff Reporter
Several of the country’s border posts are facing numerous challenges that compromise national security, including shortages of staff, patrol vehicles, and security infrastructure.
This was revealed in the National Council Standing Committees on Home Affairs, Security, Constitutional and Legal Affairs’ Report on National Border Posts. The findings follow the Committee’s oversight assessment visit to various national border posts conducted between 18 August and 9 September 2025, as part of the Committee’s 2025/2026 Annual Plan.
The border posts visited included Mata-Mata (Hardap Region), Klein Manasse (//Kharas Region), Trans-Kalahari (Omaheke Region), Sarusungu (Kavango East Region), Mohembo (Kavango East Region), Katima Mulilo (Zambezi Region), Ngoma (Zambezi Region), Nkurenkuru (Kavango West Region), Oshikango (Ohangwena Region), and Kashamane (Omusati Region).
According to the report, several of these posts — including Mata-Mata, Klein Manasse, Sarusungu, Mohembo, Ngoma, and Nkurenkuru — do not have enough officials per shift. The report also highlighted that, while most departments at the Oshikango Border Post have recruited additional personnel to meet 24/7 operational demands, there remains a shortage of border guards and immigration officers, with staffing levels still below the required minimum per shift.
The report further revealed that some border posts also face a shortage of official vehicles for day-to-day operations, as well as a lack of patrol vehicles to conduct periodic borderline patrols. The affected border posts in this regard include Mata-Mata, Klein Manasse, Katima, and Nkurenkuru.
“Although the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security received funds to address the vehicle shortage for operations and border patrols, it did not prioritise dispatching vehicles to the borders or procure any patrol vehicles as planned. It is recommended that the Ministry reallocate the existing fleet so that each identified border post receives at least one or two vehicles for daily operations,” the Committee recommended.
In addition to the aforementioned challenges, the report highlighted that some border posts are also faced with a shortage of potable water and frequent power outages. The Klein Manasse, Ngoma, and Trans-Kalahari border posts are affected by the shortage of potable water, while the constant power outages impact the Klein Manasse, Mohembo, Katima, and Ngoma border posts.
The report also revealed that security infrastructure remains a concern at the borders. For example, there are still no spotlights to provide sufficient lighting, and there is a lack of security surveillance at the Sarusungu and Nkurenkuru border posts. The report further noted that the Nkurenkuru Border Post continues to experience a high volume of illegal immigrants due to the absence of a border fence, and overcrowding in the police cells remains a challenge. The Oshikango Border Post reportedly also lacks proper control over the movement of people crossing the border.
“The Committee commends the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security for gazetting five additional border posts to address illegal crossings where official entry points are far apart. However, the Committee urges the Ministry to expedite the process of making these border posts operational or to increase security along the borderlines to prevent illegal crossings,” the Committee added.
Picture for illustrative purposes only. Photo: Contributed
