Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security
Also known as: Ministry of Home Affairs · MHAISS · Home Affairs Ministry
Ministry overseeing immigration, border control, and national security; recently reviewing 1993 immigration law and addressing border post staffing and document fraud issues.
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March 2026
The Namibian
Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and SecurityreceivesN$8.1 billion allocation
Source
“"Defence receives N$7.5 billion, including N$587 million for development projects, while the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security receives N$8.1 billion," Shafudah said.”
Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and SecurityreceivedN$8.1 billion allocation
Source
“A TOTAL of N$17 billion has been allocated to the Safety and Security sector, of which N$7.5 billion is earmarked for defence, and N$8.1 billion for the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security.”
Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Securityis concluding nationwide participation inNAMPOL Career Fair series in Ondangwa
Source
“THE Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security is concluding its nationwide participation in the Namibian Police Force (NAMPOL) Career Fair series in Ondangwa this week, equipping hundreds of police cadets with essential knowledge on civil registration, immigration services and customer care standards.”
Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Securityofficially launchedfive-day intensive training programme at Pius Joseph Kaundu Training Centre
Source
“Earlier this month, the Ministry officially launched a five-day intensive training programme at the Pius Joseph Kaundu Training Centre in the Omaheke Region.”
Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Securityhas repatriatedmore than 1,000 Angolan nationals
Source
“Namibia, through the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security's immigration control programme, has repatriated more than 1 000 Angolan nationals.”
Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Securitystatedfigures reflect sustained improvements in passport processing and administrative efficiency
Source
“According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, the figures reflect sustained improvements in passport processing and administrative efficiency.”
Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Securitystated figures reflectsustained improvements in passport processing and administrative efficiency
Source
“According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, the figures reflect sustained improvements in passport processing and administrative efficiency.”
Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Securityhas extendedamnesty period for foreign nationals until 27 February 2026
Source
“THE Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security has extended the amnesty period for foreign nationals who have overstayed their visas or permits, or who are in the country illegally, allowing them to be processed for departure without facing prosecution.”
The Ministry of Home Affairs has warned travellers against using private e-visa application platforms and agents, stating it has not appointed or authorised any external party to receive e-visa applications or fees. The Ministry has received complaints from international travellers who were directed to or mistakenly accessed private platforms, resulting in payments for visas that were never received.
Why it matters
Home Affairs Ministry warning against fraudulent e-visa platforms protects Namibian citizens and international travellers from scams targeting the official immigration process.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has warned travellers against using private e-visa application platforms and agents, stating it has not appointed or authorised any external party to receive e-visa applications or fees. The Ministry has received complaints from international travellers who were directed to or mistakenly accessed private platforms, resulting in payments for visas that were never received.
The Ministry of Home Affairs is reviewing immigration legislation enacted in 1993 to address modern migration complexities, introduce pre-arrival information submission systems, and create provisions for investors, business visitors and specialised workers to support economic growth and border security.
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.
A Windhoek resident claims the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security issued a duplicate national ID in his name to someone else, leaving him unable to access basic services. The resident has been advised to open a criminal case but is uncertain whom to hold responsible.
Deputy judge president Shafimana Ueitele dismissed an application by Namibia Central Intelligence Service director general Bamba Nghipandua to have a defamation case heard in secret, ruling that a clear case showing it is truly necessary must be made before restricting public access to court proceedings on national security grounds.
Ombudsman Basilius Dyakugha has raised concerns about severe overcrowding in police holding cells across eight northern regions, with facilities such as Omuthiya and Oshakati police stations holding over 800 inmates each, and Katima Mulilo holding over 280 inmates in cells designed for 80. Dyakugha attributed the overcrowding to prolonged case finalization, lack of bail releases, and lengthy investigations.
The Windhoek High Court dismissed an application by the Namibia Central Intelligence Service to hold a secret hearing in a N$1.8 million defamation lawsuit and to restrict media reporting on court documents. Judge Shafimana Ueitele ruled on 19 May 2026 that citizens have a right to know and press freedom must be upheld, rejecting NCIS Director-General Bamba Nghipandua's claim that disclosure would expose the agency's inner workings.
An Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association report shows Namibia is producing only about 10 commercial pilots per year, far below the rate needed to replace those lost to attrition and retirement, with companies collectively reporting a need for 60 additional pilots and 14 flight instructors—shortfalls of approximately 46% and 61% respectively.
Namibia's health system is fragmented with high administrative costs and limited fiscal pooling. A health professional has proposed a Shared Prosperity Health Covenant framework to transform the system into a unified, equitable, and digitally enabled ecosystem that addresses disparities and promotes universal health coverage.
The Ministry of Home Affairs says Angolan nationals, including children on Namibian streets, do not qualify for refugee status under Namibian law and international conventions, as they left Angola seeking socio-economic opportunities rather than fleeing persecution.
The Namibian Police report growing complaints from people scammed by unregistered rental finders on social media, with some tenants losing between N$1,500 and N$11,000 in fake deposits for properties they never secured, particularly in Windhoek.
Travellers reported hours-long delays and disrupted services at Ngoma Border Post on Wednesday due to a medical emergency involving an officer who opens the post, with services resuming around 11h00 after additional officers were deployed. Control immigration officer Irvine Mushanana acknowledged ongoing staffing shortages at the border post during busy periods.
The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security has warned the public about scammers impersonating ministry staff to sell fake national documents and permits. Victims—mostly foreign nationals—face criminal liability, prosecution, and financial loss, while the Ministry does not operate through intermediaries or facilitators.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has warned the public against scammers posing as ministry officials to demand money for national documents, permits and residency papers, sometimes issuing fake documents. Most victims are foreign nationals who, unable to qualify through official channels, pay large sums to fraudsters; the ministry has identified suspects using the names "Martin Tangeni" or "Martin Tangeni Ndeitwa" and stressed it does not use intermediaries or authorise officials to solicit money.
The Ministry of Home Affairs is urging all asylum seekers and refugees in Namibia to participate in a verification exercise to confirm their status and maintain eligibility for support services. Failure to participate will result in deactivation from the system and loss of access to services provided by the Ministry and UNHCR.
San families in Eenhana and surrounding settlements live in makeshift structures and face unemployment, lack of identity documents, and inadequate housing, despite government efforts including food assistance, school transport, and housing projects. Officials acknowledge living conditions remain difficult and uneven across communities, with plans to relocate some settlements and continue support programmes.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has dismissed allegations that it plans to recruit 39 truck drivers from Zimbabwe as "entirely false, unfounded, and without any official basis," stating it has no intention to recruit foreign nationals for such positions. The Executive Director warned the public against spreading unverified information and reiterated that Namibian citizens receive priority for employment under the Immigration Control Act.
Maria Kambinda, 77, has lived undocumented in Kavango West since 1997, leaving her four children and 16 grandchildren unable to access employment, further education, or social services. The Ministry of Home Affairs is developing legislation to address statelessness, but until those laws are enacted, the family survives on seasonal labour while awaiting resolution.
The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security has rejected claims circulating on social media that it intends to recruit 39 truck drivers from Zimbabwe, calling the allegations false and describing the WhatsApp voice note promoting the recruitment as a deliberate attempt to mislead the public. The ministry reiterated that under Namibian law, employment opportunities prioritise Namibian citizens.
An Okahandja woman is appealing for help to bury her partner of nine years, who died in hospital in March but remains unidentified after authorities found no official records of him despite fingerprint checks. Social workers are investigating through community connections, and the woman hopes public appeal will help trace his family or origin.
Namibia's aircraft operators say restrictive visa and work permit processes are constraining pilot availability, threatening aviation safety and tourism. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association notes that Namibia's pilot pool is exhausted, with only 2% of recent pilot job applicants being Namibian nationals, and calls for the Home Affairs ministry to expedite work permits for qualified foreign commercial pilots and flight instructors.
The Cabinet has instructed the ministries of gender equality and home affairs to urgently intensify nationwide awareness campaigns addressing a "disturbing rise" in murders, which are allegedly linked to insurance schemes, land disputes, and religious beliefs. The government also plans to provide mental health support to inmates and scale up nation-building campaigns to promote social cohesion.
Namibia's Cabinet has withdrawn the Okoutjete area in Kunene region from prospecting and mining activities and directed police to patrol and monitor the site to deter illegal mining. The decision reserves the Okoutjete gold occurrence from mining operations under the Minerals Act, subject to consultation with the Environment Ministry.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is expected to announce eight new deputy ministers and appoint deputy defence minister Charles Mubita as minister in the Presidency. The move comes despite her earlier decision to cut ministries and reduce Cabinet size, with critics and analysts warning that some merged ministries may now be too large to function effectively.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah announced that both parents are not required to register a child's birth, addressing a practice where some Home Affairs officials had incorrectly demanded both parents be present, causing delays in school enrolment and healthcare access. Single mothers welcomed the ruling, though a lawyer cautioned it could complicate paternity issues later.
Medical experts and legal analysts warn that Namibia lacks laws regulating surrogacy, creating risks of exploitation and trafficking, following a fraudulent advertisement offering N$800,000 to surrogates. While South Africa and Botswana have experience with regulated or unregulated surrogacy arrangements, Namibia's legal framework remains silent on the matter, leaving parties with no legal protection and prompting calls for amendments to the Child Care and Protection Act.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has urged parents to register newborns without delay, citing late registration as a persistent challenge that undermines legal identity and national planning. She noted that the national birth registration rate stands at 86.8%, and announced government measures including hospital-based registration offices and provisions allowing mothers to register children under their own surnames when fathers are absent.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah has officially opened a new Kavango West Regional Office of the Ministry of Home Affairs in Nkurenkuru, aimed at improving access to civil registration and identity services. The facility will reduce the need for residents to travel up to 140 kilometres to Rundu for essential documents and provide services including birth and death registration, passport applications, and immigration services.