Citizenship And Marriage – What About Love?

PLEASE allow me to express an opinion on the current debate on extending citizenship rights to foreigners only after 10 years of marriage to a Namibian.

Even though it seems that lawmakers are determined to approve this draconian change in our laws, I feel that someone personally involved in such a circumstance needs to talk about another side of this story that seems to be missing, which is the actual impact on the families concerned and LOVE. After 21 years of marriage, I look at this situation from another point of view, perhaps not shared by those in Parliament calling for this change. What about LOVE? What about family and children? Have we no hearts at all for those whose lives we may be burdening with 10 years of uncertainty before settling down properly? There are already so many barriers to overcome in cross-cultural marriages; need the Government add more? Many times, pressure outside of any marriage, like not being able to get a job, financial pressures, and social and legal barriers could be enough to destroy love and leave hearts and homes broken. Does the 10-year level represent the wholesome family-oriented society Namibia advocates?The reports seem to indicate that some Namibians are marrying foreigners in exchange for payment or out of ignorance, and their fake ‘partner’ obtains access to Namibian citizenship. Namibia is in a long line of countries where this odious match-making occurs. In our country, are the majority of marriages between foreigners and Namibians fake? If lawmakers cannot say whether the unfortunate cases of ‘quick-fix’ weddings which we have read about are a rampant situation comprising the majority of the marriages between foreigners and Namibians, then this law should be put on hold until a proper review is done. What is the impact of this new 10-year time span before being able to apply for citizenship on those couples that are indeed marrying for love and family? Have decision-makers assessed these couples’ ability to get jobs or long-term credit lines for home or car purchases in those 10 long years while awaiting the opportunity to apply for citizenship? If this information in unknown, then this law should be put on hold until a proper review is done.Indeed I have sympathy for those who have been caught in scheming nets by unscrupulous Don Juans or Don Juanitas who have opportunistic motives for marriage. But, adults make choices when they say ‘I do.’ Can we not have NGO or civic organisation counselling (with GRN financial inputs) and support for those who get unwittingly caught in this mess? Another question: is our pending 10-year level a random selection or is it the average in the SADC region? Have we even benchmarked this? Rather than considering a drastic and seemingly punitive increase to 10 years, why not add resources to the Ministry of Home Affairs to do ‘Due Diligence’ on the applications that are received? Just because someone applies for citizenship does not mean that it should be automatically granted. Officials should go out into the field and interview suspicious application cases. (Please pardon my lack of political correctness here) Take a hypothetical example: Imagine that a certain Hung Young Moon, who is here for construction work wants to marry Ndrothea Ndapewa Shiwongo. Hung speaks no English and no Oshiwambo. Ndrothea speaks no English and no Korean. I think this information just might indicate to the folks at Home Affairs as well as the families and communities involved, that at least a few hard questions should be asked of Hung and Ndrothea. Investigators of applications for marriage licenses should do random home interviews when warranted, visiting where the couple lives, talking to them and observing them alone and together, talking to neighbours, visiting their workplaces, speaking to church leaders, and people in the community. Other countries do this regularly in such cases and have systems already in place. A sham marriage will be easily uncovered by asking the right questions in the right places.Did anyone research the possible impacts of this 10-year wait on REAL couples, in love, trying to start a REAL family life? There are many categories of jobs that are for Namibians only. Legitimate spouses would be unable to apply for these during their long 10-year wait. Getting and renewing Permanent Residence and Work Permits is incredibly stressful and difficult and by no means guaranteed. The frustration and uncertainty involved in waiting for the Immigration Board to meet and then decide about your family’s LIFE is a horrible fate to condemn real couples and their children to for 10 long years! Spouses could be asked to leave the country, leave their children, leave their marriages, and leave their homes and jointly-owned possessions, if their permits cannot be renewed for one reason or another. Is the Ministry of Home Affairs getting a higher budget for more staff to specifically cater to the special Permanent Residence and Work Permit situation for these spouses who must wait 10 years for the security of citizenship? If there is no plan at Home Affairs to accommodate these cases, we should wait until this is done before changing these laws. Where is the responsibility of these women (or men) and their families who marry these non-Namibians knowing love is not there? Many of these people would likely go into a Church, stand before an altar to God, pledge love, and get married, when they know it is a lie. In other cases, they lie before a Magistrate when they go there to marry. When are these adults responsible for their own choices? Must we legislate in all cases where people cannot take responsibility for their own decisions? Where is counselling from the Traditional Leaders, Pastors and Priests or even Magistrates who officiate at these so-called marriages? In conclusion, it seems to me that the increase to 10 years is a reflex reaction to certain shocking cases rather than a thought-out, long-term policy. Please reconsider this law change. 10 years is really a long time.Jacqueline W. Asheeke(nee Jacqueline Marie Wilson of Washington, D.C., USA)