The Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade has cautioned members of the public to be aware of fraudulent activities around the issuing of travel permits during the current lockdown.

The ministry’s corporate communications officer, Elijah Mukubonda, in a media statement on Friday said the ministry has been made aware of fraudulent schemes through which citizens are made to pay money for the facilitation of travel permits. One of the schemes is an advertisement titled ‘Permanent Lockdown Travel Permit Available Now.’

“The public is notified that there are no obligations to pay any sum of money to be issued with a travel permit. The issuance of this document is free of charge with no cost attached by the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade,” said Mukubonda.

He added that members of the public who come across such activities should report anyone soliciting money or any sort of payment to the Namibian Police Force or the Anti-Corruption Commission.

Permits for travel within the country were made compulsory by President Hage Geingob last week, when he announced that travel between regions is banned until 15 July 2021 in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Source: Namibia Press Agency