Lahja Nashuuta 

Festus Uugwagwa Abiatar, known to his peers as ‘Fessy, is far more than just a civil servant behind a desk. 

As an administrative control officer in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security (MHAISS), he plays a pivotal role in ensuring Namibians enjoy one of their most fundamental rights – legal identity.

He is part of the National Population Identification and Production Division, responsible for processing national identity applications. 

His daily work involves verifying eligibility, capturing data, registering fingerprints, printing identity documents and ensuring delivery to collection points.

“Civil registration is the department that serves you from cradle to grave. From the moment you’re born until your final day, we make sure your existence is legally recognised,” he said.

Humble beginnings

For Abiatar, public service is not simply a career, but a calling anchored in service, innovation and the conviction that every Namibian deserves recognition and inclusion.

He joined the public service in 2009, leaving behind a teaching post at the St. Benedict Hospitality School in Oshikuku.

“The offer was more attractive compared to what I was doing at the time, both in benefits and growth prospects,” he recalled. 

“Growing up, I always thought everything revolved around government. So, yes, it was my dream to serve in the public sector,” stated Abiatar.

Clients as priority

Despite the technical demands of his role, Abiatar insists that people remain at the centre. 

“Nothing beats the joy of seeing a client, especially a vulnerable one, leaving with a wide smile,” he said.

For him, civil registration is not just paperwork. 

“We’re building trust in the system. Imagine a rural farmer applying for subsidies online instead of travelling for hours. That’s the power of a strong identity system,” he said.

Recalling the high-pressure Mass Registration exercise of 2024, Abiatar admitted that it was one of the most challenging tasks of his career. 

“For six months, I coordinated data reporting and ensured the public and stakeholders received daily updates. It was intense, but it showed how teamwork and innovation can transform service delivery,” he said.

That same year, he was named Best Innovator of the Year for his creative solutions, including using his programming skills to improve efficiency. 

“I’m called the Excel guru at work,” he laughed, “but my real love is Microsoft Access and coding. These tools allow me to build systems that make our work faster and more reliable”.

Beyond his desk, Abiatar is a man of many talents. 

“I am a publisher, novelist, budding software developer skilled in Python and Laravel, and a storyteller at heart. Colleagues describe me as resourceful, versatile and always willing to take on any other duties assigned,” he shared.

Yet, his true anchor is purpose. 

“I find my work more rewarding than challenging,” he said. 

“Yes, it’s demanding, but the appreciation from clients and colleagues makes every effort worthwhile,” Abiatar added.

Misconceptions

Abiatar is firm in countering the negative stereotypes often directed at government workers. 

“The belief that public servants are inefficient is a misconception,” he maintained. 

“People judge based on isolated experiences, forgetting that the same officer may have assisted over a hundred people that day. Service delivery is far more efficient today than it was a decade ago, and it continues to improve daily,” he stated.

The e-ID Revolution

As Namibia prepares to roll out the electronic ID (e-ID), Abiatar is proud to be part of the transformation. For Abiatar, the electronic ID is not just another government project but a turning point in Namibia’s digital journey. He admits he was sceptical at first.

“Honestly, I didn’t understand why we needed a new card when the current one already gave people access to services,” he recalls. “But then I revisited the 2005 e-Governance Policy and suddenly everything clicked. The e-ID isn’t about replacing plastic; it’s about transformation.”He explained that the policy, authored under former Prime Minister Nahas Angula, envisioned “government services delivered around the clock, even to the remotest villages.” It drew on Gartner’s e-governance maturity model, which outlines four stages: information, interaction, transaction and transformation. Namibia has achieved the first two but, Abiatar said, the e-ID is the key to unlocking the third — secure, end-to-end digital transactions.

Abiatar added that the card itself is smarter than it looks. With features such as digital signatures, it will enable Namibians to file taxes, renew permits and sign legal documents online, safely and securely. Backed by the Electronic Transaction Act of 2019 and the Civil Registration and Identification Act of 2024, it represents a leap into the digital economy.

“The e-ID is Namibia’s umbrella,” he argued. “It expands inclusion, protects citizens from identity theft, and empowers people by opening doors to services. Take an unemployed graduate in Kunene — today they’d spend money on transport and photocopies to apply for jobs. With e-ID, they can do it all online. That’s real empowerment.”

“The e-ID is more than a card. It is Namibia’s umbrella. It strengthens inclusion, protects against identity theft and empowers citizens by unlocking access to critical services,” he said passionately.

Abiatar is also actively involved in the ministry’s project to introduce the e-ID.

Looking forward, he hopes to rise within the ministry and contribute meaningfully to the project. 

“One day, I want to say with pride: I was part of the team that guaranteed legal identity for every Namibian. That is my dream,” he maintained. 

– lnashuuta@nepc.com.na