Also known as: Minister of home affairs, immigration, safety and security Lucia Iipumbu · minister Lucia Iipumbu · Home affairs, immigration, safety and security minister Lucia Iipumbu · Minister Iipumbu · Ipumbu · Home Affairs Minister Lucia Iipumbu · Lucia Iipumba · Lucia Lipumbu · safety and security minister Lucia Iipumbu · Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety & Security Lucia Iipumbu
Lucia Iipumbu — Namibia's Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, leading digital identity and immigration system reforms.
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Informanté
Minister Lucia Iipumbu announced a new employment permit to conduct business with up to five years validity
“Minister Lucia Iipumbu announced the reform in Windhoek on Tuesday, saying that the new permit and revised application requirements take effect immediately.”
Minister Iipumbu launches new 5-year employment permit for investorsInformanté
Iipumbu said the reform anchors on three changes to visa regime
“Iipumbu said that the reform is anchored on three changes to the visa regime: – New administrative requirements for General Employment Permits to streamline application and processing;– Introduction of a new Employment Permit to Conduct Business specifically for investors and businesspersons whose investor status has been confirmed by the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB);– New application requirements specifically for the Employment Permit to Conduct Business.”
Minister Iipumbu launches new 5-year employment permit for investorsInformanté
Minister Lucia Iipumbu launched the country's Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) system on Monday
“THE Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration and Safety and Security, Lucia Iipumbu, on Monday launched the country's Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), which she said is meant to make it safer and easier for citizens, businesses and Government to identify one another and transact with confidence as the country moves to secure online identity, transactions and public services.”
Minister Iipumbu launches DigiNamThe Namibian
Home affairs, immigration, safety and security minister Lucia Iipumbu says secure electronic identity solutions will empower citizens to access services safely
“Home affairs, immigration, safety and security minister Lucia Iipumbu says electronic identity systems could make it easier for people to access services.”
Namibia takes document signing onlineWindhoek Observer
Minister Lucia Iipumbu called on the government to stop making citizens repeatedly prove their identity and carry certified documents between offices
“Home affairs, immigration, safety and security Minister Lucia Iipumbu has called on the government to stop making citizens repeatedly prove their identity and carry the same certified documents between offices, saying digital transformation should make public services faster and less burdensome.”
Government told to stop making citizens carry ID copiesWindhoek Observer
Iipumbu said digital transformation should remove unnecessary queues, repeated visits, delays and duplication
“She said digital transformation should remove unnecessary queues, repeated visits, delays and duplication rather than simply putting existing procedures on a computer.”
Government told to stop making citizens carry ID copiesWindhoek Observer
Lucia Iipumbu launched the 2026 September Amnesty Month
“The warning was issued during the launch of the 2026 September Amnesty Month by safety and security minister Lucia Iipumbu on Wednesday at the Police National Headquarters in Windhoek.”
Iipumbu gives illegal gun owners 30 days to surrender weaponsWindhoek Observer
Lucia Iipumbu said protection would end when amnesty period expires; offenders will be apprehended and prosecuted
“Iipumbu said the protection would end when the amnesty period expires. "Offenders will be apprehended and prosecuted, and we will seek convictions and appropriate sentences in terms of our national laws," she said.”
Iipumbu gives illegal gun owners 30 days to surrender weaponsWindhoek Observer
Home affairs minister Lucia Iipumbu issued public notice regarding amended regulation for Employment Permits
“According to a public notice issued by home affairs minister Lucia Iipumbu, the amended regulation provides for new administrative requirements for applications for General Employment Permits, as well as the introduction of the new Employment Permit to Conduct Business and specific requirements for applicants seeking the new permit.”
New permit targets investors and business growthWindhoek Observer
Safety and security minister Lucia Iipumbu received a letter dated 21 February formally requesting residential security for magistrates and prosecutors
“In a letter dated 21 February addressed to safety and security minister Lucia Iipumbu and copied to President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Immanuel argued that the growing threats against officers of the court required urgent intervention.”
Protection plan for 400 magistrates and prosecutors heads to CabinetThe Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security has launched a new employment permit valid for up to five years, effective immediately, to make Namibia more attractive to investors and improve the investment climate by reducing administrative barriers.
5 September 2026 · Informanté →
The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security has launched a new employment permit valid for up to five years, effective immediately, to make Namibia more attractive to investors and improve the investment climate by reducing administrative barriers.
5 September 2026 · Informanté →
Home Affairs Minister Lucia Iipumbu unveiled Namibia's Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), called DigiNam, designed to enable secure digital identification, authentication and transactions for citizens, businesses and government. The system uses digital certificates and cryptographic keys to verify signatories and document integrity, with the Communications Regulatory Authority serving as the Root Certification Authority.
4 September 2026 · Informanté →
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) has launched DigiNam, a digital trust system enabling Namibians to use verified digital identities and electronic signatures to sign documents and access services online. The system, backed by the Electronic Transactions Act of 2019, supports government services, contract signing, banking, business registration, customer verification, and health or education records management.
1 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Home Affairs Minister Lucia Iipumbu has called on government to stop requiring citizens to repeatedly prove their identity and carry certified documents between offices, saying digital transformation should eliminate unnecessary queues and duplication through a trusted digital identity system and secure information-sharing between government institutions.
1 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia's safety and security minister Lucia Iipumbu launched a 2026 September Amnesty Month on Wednesday, giving illegal firearm owners until 30 September to surrender their weapons without arrest or prosecution. After the amnesty period ends, offenders will be prosecuted according to national laws.
20 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia's home affairs ministry has introduced the Employment Permit to Conduct Business, effective 1 September 2026, to simplify investor approval and reduce administrative barriers. The new permit, valid for up to five years compared to the standard two-year permit, is intended for qualifying investors whose status has been confirmed by the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board.
20 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Chief Justice Peter Shivute convened a meeting to review a security assessment for over 400 prosecutors and judicial officers, following concerns heightened by the death of regional prosecutor Justine Shiweda. The report is expected to be submitted to Cabinet and the Office of the Prime Minister in the coming weeks for consideration and possible implementation.
17 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia and Serbia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance law enforcement cooperation in combating transnational crime including terrorism, drug trafficking, cybercrime, organised crime, human trafficking, and money laundering. The agreement was signed by Namibia's Minister of Home Affairs Lucia Iipumbu and Serbia's Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Dačić in Belgrade.
7 August 2026 · Informanté →
Joshua Kaumbi, a Windhoek-based lawyer and politician, faces three criminal charges—assault by threat, common assault, and assault with intent to do bodily harm—after allegedly assaulting and threatening to kill a child maintenance officer handling his case in July. He has not been arrested pending evidential documents from the doctor, and has denied the allegations while opening a counter-case.
29 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia and South Africa have signed an agreement to allow mutual transfer of sentenced prisoners between the countries, but transfers cannot occur until South Africa passes enabling legislation expected by mid-2027. Namibia has already finalised its side of the arrangement.
21 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Seventy-two Namibians repatriated from South Africa following xenophobic attacks say they hope to return once anti-immigrant violence subsides, as the government indicated it will assess future assistance requests on a case-by-case basis and that repatriated citizens remain free to decide where they live and work.
16 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The next group of Namibians to be repatriated from South Africa are expected to arrive on Friday, 17 July, following the arrival of 71 repatriated citizens on Sunday. Immigration minister Lucia Iipumbu said many returnees faced economic hardship and vulnerabilities in South Africa, and urged Namibians abroad to comply with immigration laws and remain in contact with diplomatic missions.
13 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Home affairs minister Lucia Iipumbu announced that the government will upgrade the Automatic Biometric Information System (ABIS) following technical failures since 2025 that disrupted the processing of certificates of conduct required for employment. The ministry has entered an agreement with a supplier for a software upgrade aimed at improving stability, modernising the platform and reducing delays.
10 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia's Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security Lucia Iipumbu said the government has dispatched two teams to South Africa and identified safety shelters as xenophobic violence rises and about 100 Namibians seek repatriation from the Namibian High Commission in Pretoria.
3 July 2026 · Informanté →
Home Affairs Minister Lucia Iipumbu told the inaugural Namibia Customer Care and Effective Service Delivery Conference that service delivery is central to institutional credibility and national development. A Citizen Satisfaction Survey recorded 54% overall public satisfaction with government service delivery; the Ministry of Home Affairs recorded about 50%.
29 June 2026 · Informanté →
Home affairs minister Lucia Iipumbu has dismissed public concerns that Namibia's planned electronic identity documents will be used to microchip and track citizens, stating the e-ID is a secure smart card that stores biometric and demographic information to strengthen security and improve service delivery in line with international standards.
20 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Home Affairs Minister Lucia Iipumbu clarified in Parliament that Namibia's electronic identification documents, to roll out from September 2026, do not involve microchip implantation into citizens' bodies. The secure digital ID card will store biometric and demographic information including fingerprints and photographs to enable identity verification in physical and digital environments.
18 June 2026 · Informanté →
Home Affairs Minister Lucia Iipumbu said Namibia cannot rely on outdated and manual migration systems, and the proposed Migration Bill aims to create a digital-first, efficient, and secure system. The bill's design was informed by countrywide consultations across all regions, with input from border communities, traditional authorities, civil society, and business.
15 June 2026 · Informanté →
The Ministry of Home Affairs plans to replace Namibia's outdated migration systems with a digital-first framework featuring online visa and permit applications, electronic payments, real-time tracking, and secure digital documents. The minister said the reforms aim to improve border management, national security, service delivery and facilitate investment.
15 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia has amended its ratification of the SADC Protocol on Inter-State Transfer of Sentenced Offenders, allowing convicted Namibians serving prison sentences in other Southern African countries to be transferred home to complete their jail terms. The protocol, adopted by SADC leaders in 2019 and now gazetted by the home affairs minister, aims to support the social reintegration of offenders by allowing them to serve sentences in their home countries, though transfers require meeting specified conditions.
12 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
A PDM member of parliament has tabled questions to the home affairs minister about persistent administrative and operational deficiencies in police stations, including inadequate fleet management, delayed vehicle maintenance, and uneven resource distribution between regions. She is seeking details on how many police stations lack adequate vehicles, measures to address maintenance delays, and the impact of suspended border patrol activities on border security.
4 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Minister of Home Affairs Lucia Iipumbu addressed regional staff in Katima Mulilo, calling for vigilance against illicit cross-border crimes while urging professionalism in facilitating lawful movement, legitimate trade, and tourism. Iipumbu is conducting a two-day working visit to the region to inspect ministerial projects and conduct border visits.
1 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Home affairs minister Lucia Iipumbu has warned that inconsistent decision-making, weak discipline and communication failures within the security cluster are eroding public trust in Namibia's frontline services. She made the remarks during a regional ministerial staff meeting in Katima Mulilo, bringing together officials from Immigration, the Namibian Police Force and the Namibian Correctional Service to inspect border posts and ministry projects in the Zambezi region.
1 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security Lucia Iipumbu has flagged that failures at Namibia's border posts are eroding public trust in frontline services. The opinion piece argues that border infrastructure has been treated as a peripheral issue rather than a strategic priority, despite being the country's first and last point of contact with the outside world and crucial economic gateways.
1 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Minister Lucia Iipumbu has warned Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security ministry officials against demanding documents and imposing requirements not provided for in law at border posts.
1 June 2026 · Namibian Sun →
Home Affairs Minister Lucia Iipumbu addressed Zambezi regional staff at Katima Mulilo, calling for vigilance against illicit cross-border crimes while upholding professionalism and consistent law enforcement despite operational challenges in the region.
30 May 2026 · The Namibian →
More than 1,000 cadet constables completed their nine-month training course at the Ruben Danger Ashipala Police Training Centre and paraded in Oshakati and Ongwediva ahead of Friday's graduation ceremony, where the Minister of Home Affairs will deliver the keynote address on behalf of the President.
26 May 2026 · Informanté →
Home affairs minister Lucia Iipumbu urged newly graduated correctional officers to treat inmates with dignity and warned against abuse of power at the 32nd Basic Training Graduation Ceremony, where 399 recruits graduated. The Namibian Correctional Service operates at about 30% of its required staff and faces pressure from shortages, ageing facilities, and lack of specialists.
5 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The 32nd Basic Training Course Graduation Ceremony for Correctional Officers, Intake 1/2025, was held in Omaruru with 399 trainees graduating. Minister of Home Affairs Lucia Iipumbu emphasised the Correctional Service's mandate to provide safe custody, maintain order and security, rehabilitate offenders, and prepare them for reintegration into society while maintaining professional control without cruelty or abuse.
5 May 2026 · Informanté →
Minister of Home Affairs Lucia Iipumbu told correctional officers at Oluno Correctional Facility that allegations of inmate mistreatment will trigger swift action, including transfers and disciplinary processes, stressing that correctional work requires discipline and firmness but must never involve cruelty or abuse.
2 May 2026 · Informanté →