Former president Hifikepunye Pohamba assured the nation he is recovering well from an illness that recently had him hospitalised in the Ongwediva Medi-Park.
Pohamba was speaking during the official inauguration of the headquarters of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security that was named after him yesterday morning.
The former president sat down while sharing an update on his health following a scheduled procedure he underwent in July this year.
“You have seen me when I arrived here that I am walking on crutches. I was sick, and I cannot walk properly because of the combination of what the doctor did to me and my old age. I cannot walk long distances; I get tired easily. I am getting old,” he informed the audience.
His personal doctor Tshali Ithete said Pohamba underwent the scheduled procedure in July, and is recovering well.
“The medical team that is looking after him is very satisfied with his progress and improvement,” said Iithete.
Pohamba, who was the first home affairs minister after Namibia gained its independence, was honoured to have the N$800 million building named after him.
The construction of the new headquarters commenced on 1 April 2015. However, due to cost-cutting measures experienced in 2016 and 2017, construction work was suspended, and then resumed from 27 June 2018 and concluded on 1 September 2021.
The former president urged ministerial officials to deliver as all the services are being administered from one building, unlike in the past when the offices were scattered by divisions.
“The people of Namibia are now expecting you to deliver the services effectively and efficiently. When I was a minister, the services were delivered from different offices in different areas of Windhoek. Now, everything is centralised. Make the people happy,” he urged.
Inaugurating the sprawling marble building, President Hage Geingob urged the ministry to ensure that no Namibian is left out of obtaining a national identity.
The President indicated that the new building has brought a major improvement, for example the issuance of a birth certificate is instant upon application, and the waiting period for ID documents is between one to two weeks.
Also, the waiting period for passports has been reduced to between two to three days, and student study permits between one to three weeks.
“This is a remarkable achievement, which today compares favourably with international standards. We are living in the information age. It is an age where data and information have become the primary currency globally. The world of technology is moving rapidly and today, people demand to have information at their fingertips,” he noted.
Geingob said as the custodian of national records and data, the ministry of home affairs is expected to play a major role in the digitisation of records and data.
“I am, therefore, encouraged to note that the programme of online services promised by the ministry has commenced. Let us remember that in this modern age, to stand still is to move backwards. Therefore, we should redouble our efforts to modernise all services across the government, and bring them online and closer to the people,” he added.
The president asked the ministry to ensure that national documents are only issued to those who are entitled to have them.
“Furthermore, you must adopt a zero tolerance for those who corruptly issue such documents to people who are not entitled to possess them. Such practices pose a security risk. It is known that Namibian documents are highly sought-after by some nationals of other countries. Therefore, Namibians should jealously guard these documents so that they do not fall in the wrong hands,” he cautioned.
There are 212 offices at the building, and a parking lot which can accommodate about 550 cars.
Caption
(Home affairs 1, 2 ) Honour… The new home affairs’ headquarters were named after former president Hifikepunye Pohamba, Namibia’s first home affairs minister.
Photos: Emmency Nuukala