Staff Reporter
NAMIBIA cannot continue to rely on outdated, fragmented and largely manual systems in an era where migration management, border security, investment facilitation and service delivery increasingly depend on technology, said Lucia Iipumbu, Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, during the closing ceremony of the national consultations on the Migration Bill in Windhoek.
She said the proposed law aims to create a digital-first, efficient, and secure migration system for Namibia.
The Windhoek meeting marked the final leg of countrywide consultations on the Bill, which the ministry has been conducting across all regions to gather public input.
Iipumbu thanked border communities, traditional authorities, regional and local leaders, civil society, business, youth, and other stakeholders for their contributions. She said the experiences of border communities were central to the Bill, as they deal daily with the realities of movement, trade, family connections, and cross-border interaction.
“Your participation has given meaning to this consultation process. Your input has helped to ensure that the Bill is not only shaped by policy and administrative considerations, but also by the lived realities of the people who interact with our migration system,” she said.
One of the key goals of the reform is to build a migration system that is digital-first, efficient, transparent, customer-centred, and a framework that supports online visa and permit applications, electronic payments, real-time case tracking, clear service standards, and secure electronic documents.
She added that the Bill should create a legal environment for modern systems such as Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record, biometric capabilities, interoperable border management systems, and secure data-sharing.
According to her, the digital-first approach is not only about convenience, but also about improving national security, strengthening integrity controls, reducing administrative delays, supporting lawful travel, facilitating investment, and ensuring that the State is able to manage migration in a smarter, faster, and more accountable manner.
Picture for illustrative purposes only. Photo: Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security
