Luqman Cloete
30 April 2008
Windhoek — GOVERNMENT is reviewing Namibia's marriage laws in order to close loopholes, Minister of Home Affairs and Immigration, Rosalia Nghidinwa, said on Monday.
Opening the new Home Affairs office at Karasburg, Nghidinwa expressed concern over foreigners who marry Namibians just to obtain permanent residence or citizenship.
"Marriages of convenience are a serious concern to us in the Ministry," Nghidinwa said.
"It has been observed that some foreigners get married to Namibians in order for them to be granted Namibian citizenship for employment purposes," she remarked.
"Some of these marriages are even conducted in the absence of documents to identify the grooms," she charged.
"After foreigners obtain citizenship through marriage, it does not take them long to divorce their Namibian spouses," she said.
She said the Ministry was also concerned about websites on which agents offered foreigners Namibian permanent residence permits "at exorbitant costs".
"Such activities are illegal and the law will take its course when they are found," she cautioned.
The Minister also lashed out at farmers who allegedly deprived their workers from obtaining national documents.
The new sub-regional office will issue birth certificates, identity cards, death certificates, passports and other documents.
In the past, people living in or near Karasburg had to travel 150 kilometres to the nearest Home Affairs office at Keetmanshoop.
Plans are underway to open another sub-regional office at Luederitz next month.
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