Struggle for identity central in NC debate

A SWAPO MP from the Kavango Region has called on the Ministry of Home Affairs to start issuing birth certificates at hospitals immediately after children are born.

Mwadina Siwombe said this would be the only effective way to address the problem of many Namibians not in possession of these documents. Siwombe said there were many orphans in her region who were not benefiting from Government social grants because they did not have birth certificates.The Swapo MP called on the Ministry to consider sending mobile teams to constituencies to issue national documents, because they were a basic requirement for children to participate in school activities or to benefit from the social grant.Siwombe was speaking during debate on the money allocated to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration in the 2005-2006 Budget.She was happy with the N$81 million allocated to the Ministry, saying it would enable them to address the issuing of national documents.During the same debate, Swapo’s Yambwa Mwilima said the long queues at regional offices could be eliminated if national documents were issued at the constituency level.”I just feel the work is too much for them and we need to decentralise this,” said Mwilima.He also called on the Ministry to upgrade the Wenela border post between Namibia and Zambia.He said an increasing number of people were crossing the border there, and the border post was staffed by only four people.He said the Ngoma border post was also understaffed.Siwombe said there were many orphans in her region who were not benefiting from Government social grants because they did not have birth certificates.The Swapo MP called on the Ministry to consider sending mobile teams to constituencies to issue national documents, because they were a basic requirement for children to participate in school activities or to benefit from the social grant.Siwombe was speaking during debate on the money allocated to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration in the 2005-2006 Budget.She was happy with the N$81 million allocated to the Ministry, saying it would enable them to address the issuing of national documents.During the same debate, Swapo’s Yambwa Mwilima said the long queues at regional offices could be eliminated if national documents were issued at the constituency level.”I just feel the work is too much for them and we need to decentralise this,” said Mwilima.He also called on the Ministry to upgrade the Wenela border post between Namibia and Zambia.He said an increasing number of people were crossing the border there, and the border post was staffed by only four people.He said the Ngoma border post was also understaffed.