I recently visited a neighbouring country where I was subjected to intensive scrutiny through the immigration formalities. After submitting my authorised new identity card to the immigration officer, I was grilled despite having the relevant document. 

Despite that scrutiny, I commended the immigration officer for carrying out her official duties in a firm but professional mode. 

The scrutiny included clearly stating my point of destination, the plot number and the people to be visited. 

The immigration officer called my hosts to confirm my identity and area of origin. 

That I call professionalism, even though it takes time to execute – but at the end of the day, the officer was pacified. 

Compare and contrast this process with our situation here in Namibia, where in some cases everybody comes and goes at will without much scrutiny. 

Maybe it is the harsh and brutal experience Namibians went through during the colonial period that compels them to have a soft spot for others.  

But what is absent in many neighbouring countries is the interchange with Namibians. 

Still, the issue of porosity makes our borders easily penetrable, making it easier for illegal immigrants to enter the country without being detected. 

However, at some political hierarchy, there is the spirit of a borderless Africa leading to the creation of the United States of Africa as initially espoused by Kwame Nkrumah.

This paradigm has been championed by some Pan-Africanists like Julius Malema, the Economic Freedom Fighter’ president in South Africa, contrary to the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885, which arbitrarily demarcated the African continent. 

However, upon the assumption of Independence by many countries, the Organisation of African Unity adopted Resolution AHG/Res. 16(1) during the 1st Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government in Cairo, Egypt, from 17 to 21 July 1964 reaffirmed the principle of respecting the existing borders at the time of national independence. 

Another important clause in the OAU charter was the stipulation that member states could not interfere in each other’s internal affairs (Lamb 1990: 97). 

Now that the national borders are here to stay, unless challenged by proactive African leaders who have the will to do so, nationals must guard their borders. 

The spirit of Pan-Africanism is failing to find roots among many African countries. 

This is evidenced by cases of xenophobia in many countries on the continent. 

Not only that, but it has been observed that wherever African young politicians meet, there is bound to be friction, especially between the Francophone and Anglophone delegates. 

To this fiasco, add the case of Africans fleeing from their countries, only to be enslaved by other Africans, yet the African Union chooses to be mute on the issues. 

Of course, compromising national security typically refers to actions or behaviours that weaken or endanger a nation’s ability to protect itself, its interests or its citizens from threats or attacks.

 In this case, there have been incidences in many parts of Namibia, where local nationals have been murdered by other foreign nationals on their territory. 

This scenario simply points to a situation where national security has been compromised on Namibia’s territory. 

All over the country, especially at gazetted borders, there have been incidences where foreign nationals simply choose to cross into the country illegally to cause some ugly scenes in Namibia. 

There have been cases of robbing local people and in the process killing and wounding others. 

Yes, security agents are always posted at these places but cannot cope with the rising number of criminal cases. 

The scenario in the Zambezi region could perhaps top the list in terms of compromising national security, where stock theft is an occurrence daily. 

However, it seems the security apparatus is failing to contain the situation at Stone City near the Wenela border, where both Namibians and Zambians cross illegally in broad day without being apprehended by law enforcement agents. 

Whatever the case might be, the hindrance of combating the high rate of influx of illegal immigrants and theft of animals are complicated by many factors, of which the cutline that separates Namibia, Angola and Zambia has lain fallow since independence and is now overgrown with bushes and shrubs, making it impossible to make effective patrols by the security agents. 

On the other hand, people from the Zambezi region are entirely dependent on illegal immigrants for cheap labour as they carry out all sorts of odd jobs, starting from babysitting, cultivating, herding cattle, weeding and serving as husbands and wives. 

Whatever steps are taken to dislodge the illegal immigrants are met with resistance from their spouses. 

In many cases, the illegal immigrants have sired offspring, and some of their children have landed comfortable jobs – even though their parents have no papers to allow them to live in Namibia. 

Some people in Zambezi are cooperating with illegal immigrants to steal livestock and share the loot, compromising the security of the country. Unfortunately, this practice has permeated even within some ranks in the security forces, especially on the other side of the border. 

This is always manifested in the attitude of the security agents who refuse to hand over the livestock to their rightful owners once they are found. 

However, some politicians are craving for a borderless Southern African Development Community. It is equally true and important that this should be done in a reciprocating manner.

*Prof. Makala Lilemba is an academician, author, diplomat, motivational leader, researcher and scholar.