By Regina Simasiku
WINDHOEK – Single mothers can now apply for birth certificates in the absence of the babies’ fathers, which was not possible in the past, the Home Affairs and Immigration Ministry has said.
Spokesperson, Salome Kambala, said in a telephonic interview yesterday that the ministry had problems with late registration of birth certificates because mothers could not apply for birth certificates of their children as the fathers were nowhere to be found.
“Mothers should register the babies soon after the baby is born. She can use her surname and the law says when the father does come back, we can than change the child’s surname to his,’’ explained Kambala.
This move, she noted, is in the best interest of the child because children without birth certificates often have difficulties, as the document is required especially when they start school.
“The children will have a hard time if they reach Grade 10 and they don’t have birth certificates and they have to stand in long queues at the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration to apply for their birth certificates,” added Kambala .
Officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration are now at hospitals in various parts of the country, which makes it easy for a mother to apply for a birth certificate, noted Kambala.
“Before you needed to have the particulars of both parents,” said Kambala. Both parents’ details were needed for the ministry to establish if both parents are Namibians, added Kambala.
“But, now things have changed because they have seen that many young women are giving birth without the father and they do not register their children. The children can use the mother’s surname for good if the father does not show up,” she emphasised.
‘’Ever since we made the plea, single mothers have been coming and they come in numbers, noted Kambala. She said that there are few people who had problems with the request to register babies on the mother’s surname because tradition does not allow them to do so. But, the ministry has emphasised to them that it is for the benefit of the children.
“…So that they can have the right to education and for other things,” said Kambala.