ONGWEDIVA – National Civil Registration Director in the Ministry of Home Affairs Collens Muleke says the ministry is sitting with over 44 000 uncollected IDs.
This is one of the biggest challenges faced by the ministry, he said during the official opening of the birth registration office at Medi Park in Ongwediva on Monday.
He stressed that printing IDs costs the ministry lots of money; however, people do not collect their IDs on time.
“The money we are using to print IDs was supposed to be used for something else, such as constructing a new office for Home Affairs,” Muleke stressed.
He did concede that the northern regional home affairs offices have a high number of uncollected IDs because people live in remote areas.
“Poverty and long distances to reach home affairs is one of the contributing factors that delay people from collecting their IDs on time.”
Muleke, therefore, called on people to always notify any nearest home affairs about where they want their IDs to be delivered.
“If a person applied for an ID at Rundu but wants to move to Outapi, he/she must notify the officials on time so that it can be sent to the owner,” he said.
In addition, Muleke said, they would start engaging regional councillors so that they can assist people in receiving their IDs through their constituency offices.
Meanwhile, he also articulated concern about the high number (1 600) of late birth registrations in the Ohangwena region.
He said poverty, home delivery and cultural beliefs are some contributing factors to the high number.
Muleke urged people to register their children on time because it is very important.
“The ministry will remain committed to providing excellent customer service to people,” he added.