MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS AND IMMIGRATION

Source: by New Era Staff, 17/11/2015

Permanent Secretary of Home Affairs, clarify to all Zimbabweans why
you are deporting everyone going to visit at Hosea Kutako
International Airport? To my understanding Zimbabweans have 90 days to
come to Namibia per year on a visitors` visa. That is all being
ignored now. Is it still about lack of water or xenophobia? Are the
South Africans, Tswanas and Americans also being treated like this?
Response: The ministry needs proof of Zimbabweans being deported!
Otherwise this will just be a vague allegation. The truth is that the
Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration arrests illegal immigrants or
those who overstay regardless where they come from.


The Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration is guided by the Namibian
Act (Immigration Act of 1993) under article 7 that a person seeking to
enter Namibia shall before entering Namibia present himself or herself
to an immigration officer at a port of entry and satisfy such officer
that he or she is not a prohibited immigrant in respect of Namibia and
is entitled to enter and to be in Namibia.


The ministry can only deport a person with illegal documents or who
overstayed in Namibia. All persons from countries with whom Namibia
has signed a Visa Exception Agreement are allowed to come to Namibia
on a Visitors Entry Permit (VEP) for up to 90 days per year. It is up
to the individual visitor to break the days into intervals of either
two weeks VEP or one month VEP or 2-month VEP or exhaust 90 days at
one go. If you go beyond 90 days, the law will take its course.


In short, the ministry does not only arrest Zimbabwean nationals who
violate our immigration laws but each foreign national who becomes an
illegal immigrant or who overstays while our police officers arrest
those who commit criminal offences.


Query: Minister of Home Affairs, why do you have to ask for a work
permit if a foreigner wants to marry a Namibian? I have a child with
my boyfriend and we love each other and all that we want is to tie
that love in the form of a wedding because his entry visa is expiring
this month. Where can he get a work permit fit for marriage? Your
strict rules will expose people to corruption. People could end up
applying for study permits instead.


Response: The Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration advocates that
all foreign nationals who intend to marry Namibian citizens must have
valid status in Namibia before their marriages (in case such marriages
are to be solemnised inside Namibia).


Should they decide to marry Namibian citizens inside Namibia, they
will not have domicile in Namibia due to the lack of valid status at
the time of marriage. Marriage between a Namibian and a foreigner can
only be solemnised in Namibia if the foreign national can provide a
valid permit or visa.


Query: Minister of Home Affairs, what does a work permit and a study
permit have to do with marriage? You did not marry your boyfriend
because of that. Introduce marriage permits in your office then. Work
and marriage cannot be linked.


Response: Kindly take note that all foreign nationals entering or
residing in Namibia must be in possession of a valid permit/ visa. It
being a work, study or visitors permit or visa. It`s only then will it
be legal to marry a Namibian if you have legal status in the country.