Heated debate on ID cards

POLICE manning roadblocks should stop asking people to produce their ID cards, since the carrying of IDs is not required by law, an opposition politician has said in the National Assembly.

Speaking during the debate on the Police’s budget vote on Thursday, Tsudao Gurirab of the CoD said the core duty of the Police was to combat crime and they should concentrate on that. “There is no law in place which stipulates that Namibians must carry their ID cards at all times, but still Police stop people and want to see these cards, which is illegal.The Police must be instructed by the Minister to stop that practice.If all citizens are to carry these cards, then bring such a law to Parliament,” Gurirab told Deputy Safety and Security Minister Gabes Shihepo.Deputy Prime Minister Libertina Amathila however said it was useful to carry one’s ID card.”In the case of an accident it is easier to identify victims,” she noted.”Then bring the law to this House!” a visibly agitated Gurirab demanded.”There is no law to stop me outside and ask me for my ID card, what the Police do is illegal.””Which law says it is illegal?” Dr Amathila wanted to know, while Deputy Youth and Sport Minster Pohamba Shifeta was of the opinion that the Police had the right to ask to see ID cards.In his response, Deputy Minister Shihepo said that the Ministry might possibly consider “making it mandatory” for Namibians to carry their ID card with them at all times.Members also discussed the overcrowded Police cells and the lack of vehicles at Police stations, which prevent officers from responding to emergency calls.Gurirab and Elma Dienda of the CoD and Henk Mudge of the Republican Party commended the Police for doing their job under difficult circumstances.They did not support the vote, however, because they said the Police should receive much more than the N$976,4 million allocated to that vote – about N$40 million more than the previous financial year.The debate on the N$1,68 billion defence vote was short, with Presidential Affairs Minister Albert Kawana requesting the Defence Ministry to “look after retired NDF members, especially in lower ranks,” since they received very small pensions as a result of the low salaries they earned when they served in the force.Gurirab of the CoD cautioned that the proportion of the National Budget allocated to defence had “grown robustly” in the past few years and should be checked.”There is no law in place which stipulates that Namibians must carry their ID cards at all times, but still Police stop people and want to see these cards, which is illegal.The Police must be instructed by the Minister to stop that practice.If all citizens are to carry these cards, then bring such a law to Parliament,” Gurirab told Deputy Safety and Security Minister Gabes Shihepo.Deputy Prime Minister Libertina Amathila however said it was useful to carry one’s ID card.”In the case of an accident it is easier to identify victims,” she noted.”Then bring the law to this House!” a visibly agitated Gurirab demanded.”There is no law to stop me outside and ask me for my ID card, what the Police do is illegal.””Which law says it is illegal?” Dr Amathila wanted to know, while Deputy Youth and Sport Minster Pohamba Shifeta was of the opinion that the Police had the right to ask to see ID cards.In his response, Deputy Minister Shihepo said that the Ministry might possibly consider “making it mandatory” for Namibians to carry their ID card with them at all times.Members also discussed the overcrowded Police cells and the lack of vehicles at Police stations, which prevent officers from responding to emergency calls.Gurirab and Elma Dienda of the CoD and Henk Mudge of the Republican Party commended the Police for doing their job under difficult circumstances.They did not support the vote, however, because they said the Police should receive much more than the N$976,4 million allocated to that vote – about N$40 million more than the previous financial year.The debate on the N$1,68 billion defence vote was short, with Presidential Affairs Minister Albert Kawana requesting the Defence Ministry to “look after retired NDF members, especially in lower ranks,” since they received very small pensions as a result of the low salaries they earned when they served in the force.Gurirab of the CoD cautioned that the proportion of the National Budget allocated to defence had “grown robustly” in the past few years and should be checked.