Windhoek
Some 2 742 illegal immigrants were deported from Namibia last year, an exercise which Home Affairs and Immigration Minister, Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana, describes as costly, especially with the strengthening of major currencies against the Namibia dollar.
She however maintained that despite the process being expensive, the Directorate of Immigration and Border Control remains committed to curb illegal migration.
Iivula-Ithana, who made the remarks in the National Assembly recently, said the department is responsible for the surveillance of suspected illegal immigrants, the facilitation of deportation of illegal immigrants, the provision of secretariat services to immigration tribunals and conducting joint operations with neighbouring law enforcement agencies.
According to her, the Border Control Management System, which regulates and controls the entry and exit of persons in the country, could receive much needed upgrades to ensure efficient and effective management.
The minister added that the upgrades could not be carried out last year due to budgetary constraints.
She said that another system that has to do with alien control, to automate visas and permits, could not be sufficiently implemented in previous financial periods, also due to a lack of funds.
Meanwhile, immigration expert and retired commissioner for refugees Nkrumah Mushelenga says it does not reflect well on a country to receive a large number of illegal immigrants.
“It is a reflection that our borders are not secure enough to ensure that only those desired people are getting through into Namibia,” said Mushelenga.
“If the borders are not secure then our internal security mechanisms are also not at work. Somebody, somewhere is sleeping on duty,” Mushelenga informed New Era.
He added that in some countries foreigners are usually given a certain period after which they are alerted if their time is up to avoid ‘overstay of illegal immigrant status’, and the eventual deportation that comes at great cost.
Mushelenga says illegal immigrants pose security threats to local citizens and the matter should be treated with the seriousness that it deserves.
“We are talking about social security, economic security and security in general,” said Mushelenga.
Mushelenga urged that the Namibian government investigate the push and pull factors that lead to illegal immigrants flocking to Namibia.
He however warned that the term deportation should be used carefully, especially now that the SADC bloc is talking about and moving towards regional integration and the free movement of its citizens.
Iivula-Ithana also explained – during the National Assembly debate – that Namibia currently hosts 4 761 refugees and asylum seekers at Osire refugee settlement with the majority of them from central Africa.
She added that last year alone, 574 refugees and asylum seekers were voluntarily repatriated to their countries of origin.
Equally, 21 Namibian returnees from Dukwe refugee camp were repatriated and reintegrated into their communities, while 923 were still in Dukwe.