Africa-Press – Namibia. Rudolf Gaiseb
Independent Patriots for Change lawmaker Imms Nashinge expressed disdain over Namibia’s understaffed southern border posts, which strain the underpaid immigration officials of the Visa-on-Arrival (VoA) programme, forcing them to perform cashier duties and other roles for which they are not qualified.
The immigration ministry reported early this year that the new VoA generated over N$40 million since April.
However, Nashinge said the very officials driving this revenue remain unpaid for their overtime and are still waiting for approval of a 75-hour overtime amendment.
It is reported that Noordoewer immigration officers have been waiting for approval of their 75- hour overtime amendment since April.
“With VoA expanded to 36 countries, the pressure has become unbearable,” he said.
He questioned the responsible minister, Lucia Iipumbu, that with the Visa on Arrival expansion to 36 new countries on top of the 33 added in April, “how does the Ministry expect the already overstretched officers to cope with this increased workload and when will it finally fill the vacant posts to prevent further exploitation.”
The Iipumbu is expected to respond on Thursday, and yesterday told New Era that an investigation was launched into the matter.
Subsequently, the ministry’s executive director, Nghidinua Daniel, told New Era that the matter is internal and is being dealt with internally by the ministry.
“It will be resolved one way or the other. The staff members know the internal procedures, and I’m sure they were engaged based on the handling of that issue from the time it started,” he said.
Nghidinua started on 1 August as the ministry’s ED and stated that he was not present for the letter issued by the ministry’s deputy director, Patrick Ntupi, concerning the 75-hour overtime amendment in April, as Nashinge had mentioned in parliament.
Nghidinua, however, assured that once the amendment reaches his desk, he will deal with it according to the existing procedures.
Nashinge, during his site visit to the posts, also discovered a “dangerously” cracked wall at the Noordoover border post.
“The building, constructed in 2018 by a comrade, already has a massive crack posing a danger to officers and travellers alike,” he noted.
Nghidinua said issues of safety, whether in respect of the public and staff members, “who are our assets as a ministry”, are paramount.
“The staff concerned should be assured that we will resolve the issue within the means available to us,” he said.
In addition, he acknowledged that some border posts lack facilities, offices, and staff accommodations, among other things, at all entry border points.
“The ministry is prioritising these issues to ensure the safety and also that our staff members are given the necessary conducive environment for them to do the work that we have entrusted to them,” he continued.
For this reason, the ministry attests in its budget that it is mobilising resources and attending to existing buildings in terms of conduciveness and safety.
For More News And Analysis About Namibia Follow Africa-Press
