Also known as: Ministry of Home Affairs · MHAISS · Home Affairs Ministry
Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security — Namibian government body managing civil registration, immigration permits, police operations, and law enforcement initiatives including Operation Basadi crime-fighting program.
News reports
Order a long-term news report on Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security
Every mention in the Namibian press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
The Namibian
The ministry received qualified audit opinion from Kandjeke
“The ministry as a whole received a qualified audit opinion from Kandjeke because of several discrepancies in the reported accounts.”
Police crash 275 times in one yearThe Namibian
Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security revealed that some Namibian marriages remain unregistered
“This comes after the ministry revealed that some Namibian marriages remain unregistered, since marriage books are held at churches and magistrates' courts, leaving couples struggling to verify their marital status.”
Home affairs minister Iipumbu urges married couples to ensure they are registeredThe Namibian
Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security was designated lead agency for Inter-Agency Standard Operations framework on coordinated border management
“The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security was designated the lead agency.”
Cabinet endorses gold, border and gender equality measuresThe Namibian
Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security started issuing certificates of domicile for foreign nationals married to Namibian citizens
“The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security started issuing the certificates yesterday.”
Lawyers flag fraud risks over domicile certificatesThe Namibian
The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security started issuing certificates of domicile on Monday to foreign nationals married to Namibian citizens
“The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security started issuing certificates of domicile on Monday to foreign nationals married to Namibian citizens.”
Foreign spouses do not need certificate for residents rights – lawyer MetcalfeInformanté
The Ministry has pledged to protect identity and extend it to those waiting for it
“According to Wambo, it is his Ministry's pledge to protect identity, to extend it to those still waiting for it, and to carry it securely into the future.”
Namibian government pledges legal ID for all by 2030Informanté
The Ministry reaffirmed commitment to achieving legal identity for all by 2030
“He reaffirmed Namibia's commitment to achieving legal identity for all by 2030, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 16.9 and the African Union's Agenda 2063.”
Namibian government pledges legal ID for all by 2030The Namibian
Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security launched Operation Basadi officially on Friday
“The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security has called for a proactive and intelligence-driven approach to crime as Operation Basadi was officially launched on Friday.”
Safety, security ministry launches crime-fighting Operation BasadiThe Namibian
Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security will begin issuing certificates of domicile to foreign nationals married to Namibian citizens
“The home affairs ministry will begin issuing certificates of domicile to foreign nationals married in good faith to Namibian citizens from 21 September.”
New domicile certificates for foreign spouses start MondayThe Namibian
The ministry made the announcement in a public notice on Friday
“The ministry on Friday made the announcement in a public notice.”
New domicile certificates for foreign spouses start MondayThe police reported 361 accidents costing nearly N$5 million in the 2024/25 financial year, but the auditor general found that 86 accidents fell outside the period, leaving 275 correctly reported for that year. The Ministry of Home Affairs received a qualified audit opinion due to several discrepancies, including incomplete accounting of lands and properties.
13 October 2026 · The Namibian →
The police reported 361 accidents costing nearly N$5 million in the 2024/25 financial year, but the auditor general found that 86 accidents fell outside the period, leaving 275 correctly reported for that year. The Ministry of Home Affairs received a qualified audit opinion due to several discrepancies, including incomplete accounting of lands and properties.
13 October 2026 · The Namibian →
Home Affairs Minister Lucia Iipumbu has urged couples to visit the nearest Ministry of Home Affairs office to verify their marriage records, after the ministry revealed that some Namibian marriages remain unregistered. The problem emerged during the digitalisation of records launched in 2021, with some historical records still held in South Africa and others arriving late or never reaching the ministry.
10 October 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's Cabinet endorsed progress on the Bank of Namibia's gold acquisition project, which has acquired 30.4kg toward a 600kg target, and approved an Inter-Agency Standard Operations framework for coordinated border management. The Cabinet also endorsed legislation to sustain gender equality gains, following Namibia's fourth-place ranking in the 2026 global gender gap index.
27 September 2026 · The Namibian →
More than a decade after the City of Windhoek reserved land at 8ste Laan for police housing, construction has yet to begin and several municipal requirements remain outstanding. City officials now discuss revoking the allocation, citing the police and safety ministry as not taking the officers' housing needs seriously, and the land could be returned to address Windhoek's growing housing waiting list.
25 September 2026 · New Era →
Customers of e-hailing service Yango have accused some drivers of deliberately delaying pickups and not starting rides promptly to add paid waiting time to passengers' bills, with wait times sometimes extending from expected minimums to eight minutes or more.
23 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Following the Ministry of Home Affairs' introduction of domicile certificates for foreign nationals married to Namibian citizens, lawyers have raised concerns about fraudulent documents and marriages of convenience. They warn that the system needs proper checks to prevent fake documents and marriages entered into solely to obtain legal status, and note that Namibian law currently lacks provisions to revoke status even under certain circumstances.
22 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Advocate Richard Metcalfe says foreign nationals married in good faith to Namibian citizens acquire domicile by law and do not lose residency rights simply because they lack the new certificate of domicile issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The certificate serves only as proof of existing status, not as a grant of status itself.
22 September 2026 · The Namibian →
At an International Identity Day commemoration, Deputy Minister Edward Wambo announced the government's pledge to ensure every Namibian has legal identity recognition from birth, saying identity underpins access to health, education, finance, social protection, justice, policing and local government services.
21 September 2026 · Informanté →
The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security officially launched Operation Basadi on Friday, with minister Lucia Iipumbu calling for a proactive, intelligence-driven approach to crime that emphasizes prevention, community cooperation, and adherence to constitutional and human-rights standards rather than reactive policing focused solely on arrests and fines.
19 September 2026 · The Namibian →
The home affairs ministry will begin issuing certificates of domicile to foreign nationals married in good faith to Namibian citizens from 21 September, replacing previous certificates of identity. Applicants must submit documentation including application forms, affidavits, passports, marriage certificates, police clearances, and proof of residence, and may be required to attend interviews to verify the marriage is bona fide.
19 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Prime Minister Dr Tjitunga Elijah Ngurare has undertaken to investigate concerns over a directive allegedly restricting research into the systems, processes and information held by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security. The issue was raised in the National Assembly by Affirmative Repositioning leader Job Amupanda, who questioned whether the Ministry's reported position against permitting research—even by its own employees—was consistent with national research governance through the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology.
17 September 2026 · Informanté →
The ministry of home affairs has identified minors as the next priority in its drive to ensure Namibians have legal identity documents, with gaps remaining among children despite stronger registration rates among adults. The deputy minister urged learners to check documentation status of children and family members and encouraged those without documents to approach the ministry, while the government is bringing registration services closer to communities through regional offices, outreach campaigns, and partnerships with traditional leaders and other institutions.
17 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Namibia Tourism Board and Ministry of Home Affairs conducted a two-day customer care training programme for 36 officers from police, immigration, revenue, and veterinary services at the Noordoewer border post on 15–16 September, to improve service delivery and visitor experience at a key entry point.
16 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia observed National Prayer Day across towns and villages on Saturday under the theme "Seeking Divine Intervention for Behavioural Change," with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah warning that prayer alone cannot end gender-based violence and must be matched by government performance and action from families, communities, and institutions.
14 September 2026 · New Era →
Residents of the Osire refugee settlement say families are forced to consume maize meal distributed close to or past its expiry date, with limited quantities making it impossible to finish before spoilage. The community has raised concerns about irregular food distributions and shortages to the Legal Assistance Centre.
14 September 2026 · Namibian Sun →
Police and immigration officials conducted a pre-dawn operation at Osire Refugee Settlement on 17 August, moving through houses and checking residents' documents. At least 35 people were reportedly taken to Otjiwarongo, including those with pending applications and rejected asylum seekers; women and children were later returned, though some men remained in custody.
12 September 2026 · Namibian Sun →
Namibia's Investment Promotion and Development Board is encouraging investors to apply for a newly introduced Employment Permit to Conduct Business, which can be issued for up to five years and functions as work authorisation, offering greater certainty and long-term security for business operations in Namibia.
9 September 2026 · Informanté →
The Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board has launched a new five-year employment permit for investors that functions as work authorisation, replacing the standard two-year permit and offering greater certainty for long-term business planning in Namibia.
7 September 2026 · The Namibian →
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 →
The Ministry of Home Affairs has been accredited by Cran as Namibia's first certification service provider, allowing it to issue and manage digital certificates for online identity verification and government services. The accreditation, granted under the Electronic Transactions Act and 2025 regulations, is valid for four years and supports the rollout of Namibia's national public key infrastructure and e-ID services.
1 September 2026 · The Namibian →
A reader describes positive experiences at the Ministry of Home Affairs, where a former MP received a passport in one day and the writer obtained a full birth certificate in 30 minutes, crediting the ministry's implementation of the Public Service Charter for its professional service and friendly officials.
1 September 2026 · The Namibian →
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 →
The Ministry of Home Affairs says international musicians and performers must obtain employment authorisation before entering Namibia to work, even for single events or a few days, under Section 27 of the Immigration Control Act of 1993. The clarification follows cases including South African artist Kamo Mphela, who was unable to perform at the MTC Kasi Vibe festival in Windhoek because of visa issues.
18 August 2026 · The Namibian →
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 →
Young people at Otjombinde are clearing bush along the Namibia-Botswana border to erect a fence and prevent cattle movement that could spread foot-and-mouth disease, with about 70 community members assigned to the effort as part of government efforts to protect Namibia's FMD-free status.
6 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Home Affairs reports that staff losses within the Namibian Police Force have strained operations, with resignations largely linked to poor remuneration. Despite recruitment drives across the security sector in 2024/25 bringing in approximately 4,000–5,000 positions, the ministry continues to experience resignations, retirements, and skills shortages.
6 August 2026 · New Era →
Acting prosecutor general Martha Imalwa has applied to freeze N$3.2 million held in the account of Chinese businessman Yan Qiang, alleging the funds are proceeds of illegal abalone trading, money laundering, and immigration fraud. The case stems from May discovery of 512 frozen abalone at a Windhoek supermarket.
4 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Health and Social Services won the overall award at Nipam's second public sector awards ceremony in Windhoek, recognized for investing in professional development and employee capacity building. The ceremony also celebrated 38 public servants who completed Nipam's accredited management programmes at NQF levels 6, 7 and 8.
3 August 2026 · The Namibian →
South African amapiano artist Kamo Mphela apologised after missing a performance at the MTC Kasi Vibe festival in Windhoek over the weekend due to visa issues. According to sources, she had not obtained a work permit and was only permitted to make an appearance; the Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed that foreign artists must comply with Namibia's immigration requirements before performing.
3 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Omaheke governor Pijoo Nganate says rural and marginalised communities, particularly the San population, need to be convinced to adopt the government's planned electronic identification documents if the rollout is to be inclusive. A team from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, partnering with UNDP, is visiting all seven constituencies in the region this week to explain the chip-based e-ID, with concerns raised about low literacy levels among marginalised groups.
29 July 2026 · The Namibian →