‘Civil registration officials play an important role in a country’s security’

Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security executive director Etienne Maritz has implored civil registration officials not to take their duties lightly, as they play a pivotal role in strengthening countries’ security and enhancing the credibility of national registration.

He made these remarks during the commencement of a study tour by Zambia’s national registration authority in Windhoek on Monday.

The Zambian delegation, under the leadership of register general Brenda Kabemba, is on a week-long study tour during which the two countries will share ideas to improve their respective civil registrations in order to serve the masses better.

According to Maritz, the civil registration officials also bring hope to people who suffer because of a lack of national documents.

“Without your work, legal identity will not be established, and fulfilment of UN Sustainable Development Goal 16.9 will remain out of reach. You are, therefore, not just salary collectors but changemakers. I appeal to you to approach your mission this week as one that can change the trajectory of civil registration in our countries,” he said.

He also implored the civil registration officials to look at the progress made in the implementation of the five resolutions that were supposed to be implemented by the two civil registration authorities taken at the 24th session of the Namibia-Zambia joint permanent commission (JPC) on defence and security.

Additionally, they should come up with practical implementation plans, as well as remedial interventions, where needed, to ensure that all resolutions are implemented before the next JPC.

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