Windhoek: Hundreds of undocumented individuals staged a demonstration at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, citing delays in the issuance of national documents following the 2024 nationwide mass registration campaign.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the government conducted the mass registration campaign between February and July 2024 to process applications for birth certificates, national identity documents, duplicate documents, and citizenship. Leading the demonstration was Nghipudilo ya Shiindi, who said many applicants have been waiting for years and continue to receive conflicting responses from ministry officials when following up on their applications.

"When they visit Home Affairs offices to follow up, they are told to wait because they are still in the system and investigations are ongoing," she said. Shiindi questioned why the investigations have taken more than two years, saying the prolonged delays have left many applicants without documentation.

She further claimed that some Namibians born in the country who still hold former South West Africa identity documents continue to face challenges in obtaining Namibian citizenship. The group is demanding that the ministry process and issue all outstanding national documents and respond positively to their petition by 18 July 2026.

In September 2024, the ministry announced that more than 82,760 people had obtained national documents through the nationwide mass registration campaign. Speaking to Nampa during the demonstration, 26-year-old Josephine Mwaunda, who was born at Odibo in the Ohangwena Region, said she has been trying to obtain national documents since 2013.

"I feel bad because I want to continue with my education, but I do not have an identity document. Some of us also want to get married, but we do not have identity documents," she said. She appealed to the government to assist those still waiting for their documents.

Director of Civil Registration Petra Simasiku, who received the petition and acknowledgement letters on behalf of the ministry, assured the demonstrators that the matter would be brought to the attention of Minister Lucia Iipumbu.