BACHELORS HONOURS DEGREE

JOURNALISM AND MEDIA TECHNOLOGY

SCHOOL OF HUMAN SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION

An investigation Journalism piece on the effects of undocumented residents in Ohangwena region,

Namibia

MJM821S

2016

STUDENT NAME: KATRINA N JACOB

STUDENT REGISTRATION NUMBER: 200762940

MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION RESEARCH/PRODUCTION PROJECT SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT

OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE BACHELOR HONOURS DEGREE JOURNALISM AND COMMUNICATION
TECHNOLOGY, DEPARTMENT MEDIA TECHNOLOGY, NAMIBIA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY .

SUPERVISOR: JULIUS MTEMAHANJI

DATE/YEAR: 2016
Declaration
I, Katrina Neepo Jacob, declare that the work contained in the project entitled an investigation Journalism piece on the
effects of undocumented residents in Ohangwena region, Namibia, is my own original work, and that all sources have been
accurately reported and acknowledged, and that this project has not been previously in its entirety, or in part been submitted
at any university or higher education institution for the award of an academic qualification.

Signature: k.jacob

Date: 03/Oct/2016

Retention and Use of Theses

I, Katrina Jacob a candidate for the degree of Bachelor Honours Journalism and Communication Technology accept the
requirements of the University of Science and Technology relating to the retention and use of the Media
Research/Production Project deposited in the library.

In terms of these conditions, I agree that the original of my project deposited in the library will be accessible for purposes of
study and research in accordance with the normal conditions established by the Librarian for the care, loan and reproduction
of the project.

Signature: k.jacob

Date: 03/Oct/2016

ii
Abstract:

This research performed as part of the Honors degree in Journalism and Communication technology offered by
the department of Communication, School of social science of the Namibian University of Science and
Technology.

In July 2016 a study was carried out in Ohangwena region to understand, and to identify the causes for the high
number of undocumented residents in Ohangwena region, as well as to assess the effects of being
undocumented. The research done at some parts of Ohangwena region has yielded the empirical data. The
researcher has arrived at the conclusion that today, having a legal identity is increasingly important for any
person who interacts with the public sector and society in general.

Not having a national identity document was found to have economic and financial implications and to be a
determining factor in the cycle of poverty. The study do not claim to be thorough; rather it is meant to be a
positive contribution to the search for practical solutions that will help Ohangwena region, and Namibia achieve
universal, reliable, integrated, and secure legal identity for all of their citizens

This research started by stating the state between Namibia and Angola and its people. The colonial border
between Namibia and Angola cuts through the ethnic of Oshikwanyama- speaking community of the Aawambo
hence, these people in northern Namibia and southern Angola share the same language and culture and have
difficulties to understand and accept the common Namibian/Angolan border. The border was never a solid
barrier. People continue to cross the border, which was not fenced or otherwise demarcated; and still unfenced.
Therefore, some Namibians reside in Angola for Agricultural purposes, Cross-border family and ethnic ties force
people to move on a daily basis. Works, education and seeking of medical attention are also other reasons.

Keywords: National, Documents, Identity Documents, Birth Certificate, Civil registration, Children,
Elderly People, Youth out of School, Angolan, Namibian, Relatives, Human Rights

iii
Dedication

I dedicated this research to all the people of Ohangwena region who have lived all their lives without national documents

Acknowledgements

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Ms. Elva Gomez De Sibandze and the Head of department, Dr. Nicolas
Fredricks for allowing me to undertake this work.

I would like to thank Mr Julius Mtemahanji my supervisor for his continuous guidance, advice effort and inevitable suggestion
throughout the research.

I am also grateful to the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, Ohangwena Regional Office for providing
me with logistic support during my research when I needed them. I would like to thank all the people that encouraged me to
carry out this project.

Lastly I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the almighty God for guiding me throughout this project.

iv
 Table of Contents

Declaration ............................................................................................................................................................. ii

Retention and Use of Theses................................................................................................................................ ii

Abstract ................................................................................................................................................................. iii

Dedication.............................................................................................................................................................. iv

Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................................................. iv

Table of Contents................................................................................................................................................... v

Chapter I: Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 7

Overview of the chapter................................................................................................................................... 7
Reasons for choosing topic ............................................................................................................................ 7
Background of the study ................................................................................................................................. 7
Delimitations of the study ............................................................................................................................... 8
Significance of the study ................................................................................................................................. 8
Outline the statement of problem ................................................................................................................... 9
1.7 Research objectives or questions or hypotheses ................................................................................ 9
1.8 Definition of terms...................................................................................................................................... 9

Chapter II: Literature Review .................................................................................................................... 10

Overview of the chapter ...................................................................................................................................... 10

Review of the literature ....................................................................................................................................... 10

The Conceptual Framework ................................................................................................................................ 13

Chapter III: Methodology ..................................................................................................................................... 15

Overview of the chapter ...................................................................................................................................... 15

Restatement of research objectives .................................................................................................................. 15

Research design .................................................................................................................................................. 15

Conceptual phase .......................................................................................................................................... 15
Empirical phase .............................................................................................................................................. 15
Qualitative Data Collection ............................................................................................................................ 16
Quantitative Data Collection ......................................................................................................................... 16
Interpretive phase .......................................................................................................................................... 17
Quantitative Data Analysis ............................................................................................................................ 17
Qualitative Data Analysis .............................................................................................................................. 17
Communication phase ................................................................................................................................... 18

Chapter IV: Presentation and analysis of data................................................................................................. 19

4.1 Overview of the chapter ....................................................................................................................... 19

4.2 Methods of data collection .................................................................................................................. 19

4.3 Data presentation on quantitative method .................................................................................................. 19

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 4.3.1 Sex of the respondent........................................................................................................................... 20
4.3.2 Age of the respondent .......................................................................................................................... 20
4.3.3 Education Qualification ........................................................................................................................ 21
4.3.4 Nationality .............................................................................................................................................. 21
4.3.5 Which documents among the following do you possess? ............................................................... 22
4.3.6 are your children in possession of the following documents? ........................................................ 22
4.3.7 Have you ever voted in the General election of the country? ........................................................... 23
3.4.8 In case you are non-Namibian, for how long have you been in the country? ................................. 23
3.4.9 have you ever applied for the Namibian National ID? ....................................................................... 24
3.4.10 for how long have you been trying to get a Namibian National ID? ............................................... 24

4.4 Qualitative method......................................................................................................................................... 25

4.4.1 Challenges pertaining the issue of lack of National Documents ...................................................... 25
4.4.2 Responses at hands on the issue of lack of National Documents ................................................... 26
4.4.3 Causes of lack of National Documents ............................................................................................... 27
4.4.4. Possible solutions to the issue of lack of National Documents ...................................................... 28

4.5 Qualitative Method; Community meetings. ................................................................................................. 29

4.5.1 Reasons of not having national documents ....................................................................................... 29
4.5.2 the effects of not having national documents .................................................................................... 31
4.5.3 suggestions by the community to solve the problems of lack of national documents ................. 32

Chapter V: Conclusion/Summary of findings and recommendations ............................................................ 34

5.1 Overview of the chapter ....................................................................................................................... 34

5.2 Summary of Findings........................................................................................................................... 34

5.3 Conclusions .......................................................................................................................................... 36

5.4 Recommendations for action .............................................................................................................. 37

5.5 Recommendations for further studies ............................................................................................... 37

List of Tables ........................................................................................................................................................ 39

List of Figures ...................................................................................................................................................... 39

References............................................................................................................................................................ 40

Appendices........................................................................................................................................................... 42

vi
Chapter I: Introduction

Overview of the chapter

In this chapter, the researcher provides the reason for choosing this topic, background of the study, delimitation of the
study, the significant of the study, and outlining of the problem statement as well as the research objectives and the
definition of terms in the study.

Reasons for choosing topic

The researcher has been working in the Ohangwena region as an Information Officer at the Ministry Information
Communication and Technology (MICT) for about three years and a half. Working with the community, the issue of lack
of national documents such as birth certificates and identification document (ID) came to the researchers attention
several times. Hence, aspiration to carry out this research and find the causes of undocumented citizens and hope to
achieve the successful facts on how the problem of not having National Identity Documents in Ohangwena Region
impacts the life of the people in the society and how it can be resolved.

The researcher has observed that most of people in Ohangwena region cannot benefit from some or most of
government services due to lack of national identity documents. Furthermore, they are unable to exercise social civil
rights. Having a document that verifies ones identity is fundamental for any citizen, to be able to access government
social services and benefits, regrettably this remains a dream to many Ohangwena residents.

Furthermore, the lack of national identity documents is a contributing factor to poverty in Ohangwena region because the
residents without the documents are sidelined on different government programmes such as poverty alleviation. This
denies people to access basic services and opportunities as provided for by the government. This is a contributing factor
to poverty and it must be dealt with accordingly.

Background of the study

Ohangwena Region is one of the fourteen regions in Namibia. To the north, Ohangwena borders with Cunene Province
of Angola, as well as, a small border with Cuando Cubango Province in the far Northeast. Domestically, it borders with
Kavango, Oshikoto, Oshana and Omusati Regions. According to National Census (2011) report, the largest town and
capital of this region is Eenhana. Ohangwena region is home to 245 000, 12.5 per cent of Namibias 2.1 million people
and growing at an annual rate of 0.7 percent. Ohangwena is among the poorest regions in the country. The proportion of
the population living in rural areas was higher than in urban by 89.9 % and 10.1%, respectively. Angolan nationals
represented the highest proportion of non-Namibians enumerated in Ohangwena region at 47.3 percent of the regions
population.

7
According to a Namibia Planning Commission (2004) report, in the Ohangwena region there is high level of illiteracy,
lack of portable clean water and other basic commodities like electricity and telephone coverage. The region is
characterized by poor access to services and institutions; poor roads infrastructures, insufficient schools, hospitals,
police, national offices, poor communication networks, and some areas have no radio or television coverage.

Available services become inaccessible to many community members due to poor or lack of education, which makes it
difficult for everyone to access available information on services and job opportunities. Among the different ethnicities in
the Ohangwena region are the Kwanyama, Ndonga and San communities form part of the inhabitants in the region with
their own language and cultural practices.

The Ohangwena region has witnessed a number of battles during the Namibian War of Independence in the region. As
a result, many of Kwanyamas who have origins from Angola are also Aawambo, and within the Aawambo tribe there are
many ethnicities and Aakwanyama is one of them, hence their frequently cross into Namibia because they have families
in both sides of the boarders.

According to Niikondo (2007) as cited, Ills (2003) argue that the problem lies with the borders where the people in the
neighboring areas belong to the same ethnic group and divisions. In this case, close family networks bind these people
together. Their relatives live on both sides of the border, and the international border is only a political demarcation with
little influence on ethnic, linguistic or social phenomena.

Inter-relations of inhabitants in Ohangwena region and all challenges, which are associated with such relation, have
come long way in history and probably they will not be solve in the very near future if the governments of Namibia and
Angola do not take an active role to solve them.

Delimitations of the study

This study will not focus on the rest of the regions in Namibia, which have similar challenges. Moreover, this study will
not focus on people who have been documented in Ohangwena region.

Significance of the study

Communities in Namibia benefits from this study because since Namibia gained her independence, there has been
revisions in various areas of peoples lives of which many benefited. But as it stands today, many are still left out from
economical or social benefits. This study is significant because it sheds light on the plight of residents who are not
documented in Ohangwena region. Most of these residents are denied their human rights and social benefits.

Moreover, the study is significant to the Government of Namibia because it helps to understand better the problem and
contributes to the search for practical solutions that helps Namibia, and Ohangwena region in particular to achieve
universal, stable, open, and secure legal identity for all of their citizens, researchers and scholars in the social sciences.

8
Outline the statement of problem
According to National Planning Commission (2011) there are estimated about 23752 undocumented residents living in
Ohangwena region. These people are basically cut off from all government projects and services. They are not involved
and considered as part of poverty alleviation programmes in the area. These people live in poverty and have no future
because they are not recorgnised in most of government delivery system.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the causes of the so many people undocumented in this region and to
establish the effects and challenges they face. Lastly, a video produced to raise awareness on the situation of
undocumented persons in Ohangwena region.

1.7 Research objectives or questions or hypotheses

This study was led by the following research objectives:

a. To identify the causes for the high number of undocumented residents in Ohangwena region

b. To assess the effects of being undocumented in Ohangwena region

c. To produce an investigative television documentary to raise awareness of undocumented residents in

Ohangwena region

1.8 Definition of terms

Undocumented citizens People without National documents

National documents this are documents like, birth certificates, Identity cards and full birth certificates

Late registration- registration, which occurs later than the time periods established by law

Investigation the process of inquiring into

Effect- outcome of a cause

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Chapter II: Literature Review

Overview of the chapter

In this chapter, the researcher provides the review of previous literature, and the conceptual framework for the study
through a discussion of the key theoretical, practical and human right perspective related to the project. First, a
discussion of the previous written documents about this topic, especially in Africa is carried out, because there is little,
which has been written in Namibia. Secondly, conceptual framework for this study, which discusses the principles of the
Social Exclusion theory as well as the Human Right on Identification and the Third National Development Plans goal
strategy on the provision of Identity document.

Review of the literature

On the review of literature, it has been established that there are no published research papers on undocumented
residents in Namibia, but a few newspaper reports on people suffering as a result of lack of birth certificates and identity
documents has been noted. The researcher came across few reports done across the world, with subtitles and chapters
on the importance and challenges of not having national identification documents. For this review of sources, the
researcher includes sources that have been written in Africa and go to the broader perspective.

Cameroon is one of the African countries that had a long process when it comes to obtaining an identity documents,
information on the internet indicates that citizens can apply for a national ID card at police stations in the country (Abeng
Law Firm, 02 August. 2016). It is explained that there are hundreds of police stations across the country, which are
administered by the General Delegation of National Security that are responsible for identity documents, as well as
mobile teams that travel to remote areas of the country.

The information indicates that the process of getting a national ID card mostly get hindered by administrative red tape
and the slow pace of government processing the document (Abeng Law Firm, 02 Aug. 2016). Moreover, the information
indicated that poverty is a big hindrance to citizens obtaining a card. Similarly, the representative of the Nico Halle Law
Firm indicated that the obstacles that citizens may face include the following: financial difficulties, especially for rural
residents; long distances from issuing offices for rural residents; delays in issuing the card due to inadequate facilities
and personnel; and extortion and intimidation by police officers.

Poorly developed civil registration systems and ineffective or corrupt local authorities create a situation, where a portion
of the population is not registered at birth and lacks any official identification later on in life. UNICEF estimated that in
2003, approximately 48 million births worldwide were not registered. Moreover, the ratio of children (below the age of

10
five) who are not registered ranges from 10 percent of all births in Latin America to 59 percent in South Asia, and
stunning 66 percent in Sub-Saharan African (Jentzsch, 2009).

Therefore, even in countries, where civil registration systems exist, many poor persons cannot provide the basic
information required for an ID card, such as their exact date of birth unknown or insufficiently documented or a
residential address.

Historically, before the advent of colonialism, the Aawambo in general and the Kwanyama in particular, occupied the
whole area between the Cunene and Cuado rivers. It is a fact that some people born in Angola or Namibia, especially
during the time of war or at the beginning of the century were not officially registered as citizens of either country. The
nomadic San communities also move regularly across the border unnoticed or noticed but no one worries about their
migration. The problem in this regard is that mixed Namibian and Angolan Oshikwanyama-speakers in northern Namibia
pose dilemmas for the authorities to identify those people who have ordinarily been in Namibia for more than five years
to qualify for citizenship in terms of the Constitutional provisions (Niikondo, 2007).

According to the Article 7 of the UN Convention on the rights of the Child states that A child shall be registered
immediately after birth. But according to UNICEF (1998) on the Deficient Birth Registration in Developing Countries,
argues that almost universal ratification of this human right treaty, one third of all births-about 40 million babies go
unregistered every year. Child registration at birth is regarded as an important element towards the future of the citizen
though it is still a challenge to some countries in the world. According to UNICEF (1998) some countries have not
managed even to establish a mandatory birth registration system, among them Afghanistan, Cambodia, Eritrea,
Ethiopia, Namibia and Oman. A birth certificate is a childs proof of identity and represents the first acknowledgement of
his or her significance to the country.

Additionally, the Namibias Constitution of 1990 provides for a grace period for all people who had lived in Namibia for
more than ten years to automatically apply for Namibian citizenship. According to Article 4 (4) of the Constitution of the
Republic of Namibia of 1990:

Citizenship by registration may be claimed by persons who are not Namibian citizens under Sub-Article (1), (2)
or (3) hereof and who were ordinarily resident in Namibia at the date of Independence, and had been so
resident for a continuous period of not less than ten (10) years prior to such date: provided that application for
Namibian citizenship under this Sub-Article is made within a period of twelve (12) months from the date of
independence, and prior to making such application, such persons renounce the citizenship of any other
country of which they are citizens.

The article above was amended in 2014 with a provision of ten years from five, which makes the process more
complicated and cumbersome. Migration and citizenship issues between Namibia and Angola remain complicated
because local communities and political elites operate on two distinct repertoires that is local communities tend to

11
disregard international borders largely for cultural and socio-economic reason, while the political elites tend to safeguard
borders based on sovereignty and constitutional grounds (Niikondo, 2007).

According to the Northern Gate Way:Cross border migration between Namibia and Angola research indicated that
almost 55% of Angolans and 42% of Namibians said that they had immediate family across the border who they visited
frequently. Over a third of Namibians with immediate family in Angola tended to visit them on a daily basis. Angolans
preferred to visit their families in Namibia a couple of times per year (24%) or once a year and less (31%) (Nangulah and
Nickanor, 2005).

Several news reports have been published in newspapers, radio and television stations about people who lives in
Namibia without identity documents. On the 16th October 2014, Namibia Broadcast Corporation Television aired a story
on Ohangwena region resident, Hendrina Namukanda 95 years old woman who has been waiting for her identity
document for more than 20 years. Hendrina was born at Onangwe village, Southern Angola and moved to Namibia in
1960.

Mouton and Dirkx in their book Scraping the Pot: San in Namibia Two Decades After Independence states that many
elderly San were not registered for their pension, despite being entitled to it by virtue of their age. The main reason for
not receiving this pension was lack of vital documents such as ID or birth certificates, or incorrect information on existing
documents. The same was true for many orphans and vulnerable children who did not receive grant despite being
entitled to it.

Proof of birth is needed for a number of services, and it offers a degree of legal protection. But too few developing
nations take birth registration seriously, and rates vary widely within and between countries. In order to be considered
eligible for a government grant for example, applicants must produce either an identification document, which is granted
upon provision of a birth certificate or the birth certificate itself. Many child-headed families and adults do not possess
these identity documents.

Dodds (2010) in her editorial journal; birth registration is a priority for child survival, stated that globally, 50 million
children are not registered at birth and therefore have no civil identity; as far as the state is concerned they are
essentially invisible. UNICEF states that birth registration represents the starting point for the recognition and protection
of every childs fundamental right to identity and existence. Moreover, the World Bank describes a birth certificate as a
permanent, legal and visible recognition by the state of a childs existence as a member of society. A lack of registration
creates a barrier to several essential services: such children may not have access to health care or education, be unable
to enroll in school and may not be adopted nor protected from exploitation such as sex-trafficking.

Recognizing the extent of the problem in a number of countries, the international bodies have encouraged on the need
to have mandatory registration of all people who are not registered in their countries. Better quality and more timely
information is vital to fulfill citizens right and for national planning. Countries including Brazil, Pakistan and Turkey have
recently used household surveys to assess birth registration coverage (UNICEF, 1998).

12
The Conceptual Framework

The conceptual framework for this study includes the Social Exclusion theory as well as the Human Right on
Identification and the Third National Development Plans goal strategy on the provision of identity document. It is used
across disciplines including education sociology, psychology, politics and economics.

Social exclusion is a theoretical concept, which is used widely in Europe and was first used in France. Sen (2000) has
pointed out that the historical roots of the concept of social exclusion go back as far as 1974 when Rene Lenoir, then
Secretary of State for Social Action in a French Gaullist government, first popularized the term. It is indeed possible
both to acknowledge and celebrate the particular intellectual history involved in the genesis of these ideas in France and
elsewhere and also to accept the claims of these values to be of universal importance.

Additionally, Mathieson defined Social Exclusion as the process in which individuals or entire communities of people are
systematically blocked from or denied full access to various rights, opportunities and resources that are normally
available to members of a different group, and which are fundamental to social integration within that particular group
(Mathieson et al., 2008). Moreover, Mathieson explained that social exclusion theoretically emerges at the individual or
group level on four correlated dimensions: insufficient access to social rights, material deprivation, limited social
participation and a lack of normative integration. This means that the outcome of social exclusion is that, affected
individuals or communities are prevented from participating fully in the economical, social and political life of the society
in which they live.

In addition to Sen and Mathiesons concepts, the Social Exclusion Unit, an organization from Europe that deals with
social exclusion issues, explains that social exclusion is considered to facilitate a broader understanding of the multiple
dimension of poverty. Social exclusion has been described as the existence of barrier, which make it difficult or
impossible for people to participate fully in society or obtain a decent standard of living. Examples of barriers for social
exclusion include disability, lack of educational opportunity, inadequate housing, ethnic minority status, unemployment,
age, and lack of transport (Social Exclusion Unit, 2003).

However, according to Levitas (2006) as cited by Townsend (1979) states that individuals, families and groups can be
said to be in poverty when their resources are so seriously below those commanded by the average individual or family
that they are, in effect, excluded from ordinary living patterns, customs and activities. The logic of the social exclusion
approach is that the way of including people with these disadvantages is not only, or even necessarily, to give them
more money but also to develop social policies which specifically address their sources of disadvantage.

The theory of Social Exclusion is relevant to this study due to the fact that undocumented residents in Ohangwena
region suffer from social rights, material deprivation, limited social participation and a lack of normative integration.
People who are not documented have lower power relation to those who have in the sense that when it comes to
decision making such as voting they have no voice.

13
In addition, this theory is applicable to this study due to the fact that undocumented people in Ohangwena region are
denied access to various rights, opportunities and resources. The denial comes from the absence of national
documents, which are important in all legal contracts and agreements. Therefore, poverty situation which is evident in
this particular group continues to prevail as long as this group exists. In general, this theory highlights the problems,
which are caused by social exclusion, and guides this study by looking at the social exclusion barriers, which contribute
to high level of poverty in this community.

According to this study, another important concept to consider is the human right to identification. Humanium
organization as cited on 20/04/2016 argues that having an identity is a fundamental human right, which allows
individuals the ability to enjoy all of their rights. Identity includes family name, surname, and date of birth, gender and
nationality of the individual. Through these details, an individual will hold rights and obligations specific to their status
(woman, man, child, handicapped, refugee, etc.).

The childs legal identity under domestic law is the fundamental prerequisite for his or her protection and demands
universal registration of the child at birth. The Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration (MHAI) administers the
registration of births, and such documentation is necessary for school registration, receipt of social assistance, electoral
registration, and applying for a passport, among other essential services and entitlements.

According to the Demographic Health Survey (DHS), only 67 per cent of births were being registered by 2006 in
Namibia, with marked regional variations (as low as around 40 per cent in Caprivi and Kavango regions) and an
urban/rural disparity of 30 percentage points respectively, 82 per cent and 52 per cent
(www.unicef.org/namibia/SitAn_part_2.pdf)

Namibia National Development Plan 3 has a goal strategy to intensify the issuing of national identity documents at sub-
national levels. The government wants to ensure that all its citizens are registered to enable other organs of the state to
use that information for planning purposes. Further, when registering to vote, the applicants are required to show proof
that they are Namibian citizens, which can be met by showing either an identity card or birth certificate. Equally, all
citizens wanting to access social benefits, such as old age pension, benefits for vulnerable children, etc., should be in
possession of some sort of identification. This sub-sector is also charged to ensure that all persons entering into and
exiting from Namibia do so in an orderly manner. Also, the sub-sector ensures that foreign nationals residing in Namibia
do so legally. It regulates the issuance of permits to ensure that the skills gap in the Namibian job. The market is filled in
a manner that would benefit Namibia, while ensuring the protection of jobs for Namibians.

14
Chapter III: Methodology

Overview of the chapter

This chapter discusses methodologies, which were used to collect, present and analyse data. In this particular study
mixed method was used that included quantitative and qualitative methods. According to Creswell (year) states that the
research methodology and methods section describes the rationale for the application of specific procedures or
techniques used to identify, select, and analyze information applied to understanding the research problem, thereby,
allowing the reader to critically evaluate a studys overall validity and reliability.

Restatement of research objectives

This study was led by the following objectives:

a. To identify the causes of undocumented residents in Ohangwena region

b. To assess the effects of being undocumented in Ohangwena region

c. To produce an investigative television documentary in order to raise awareness about undocumented

residents in Ohangwena in Namibia

Research design

Conceptual phase
According to this investigation, the research adopts mix method, which includes both methods of qualitative and
quantitative research in data collection and analysis. According to Du Plooy (2009) this is referred to as triangulation
method, which is the combination of two or more data collection methods and reference to multiple sources of
information to obtain information. Du Plooy (2009) concedes that triangulation in practice may result in the combination
of quantitative and qualitative approach to communication research and the main reason is to test theoretical
assumptions in more than one way, and increase the reliability and validity of observations, analyses and findings.

Empirical phase
The target population for this research is the population of people who are living in Ohangewna region. According to
National Census (2011) report, the largest town and capital of this region is Eenhana. Ohangwena region is home to 245
thousand) 12.5 per cent of Namibias 2.1 million people and growing at an annual rate of 0.7 percent. Ohangwena is

15
among the poorest regions in the country. The proportion of the population living in rural areas was higher than in urban
(89.9 % and 10.1%, respectively. Angolan nationals represented the highest proportion of non-Namibians enumerated in
Ohangwena Region at 47.3 percent of the regions population.

Qualitative Data Collection

Qualitative Research is primarily exploratory research. It is used to gain an understanding of underlying reasons,
opinions, and motivations. It provides insights into the problem or helps to develop ideas or hypotheses for potential
quantitative research. Qualitative Research is also used to uncover trends in thought and opinions, and dive deeper into
the problem. According to Kothari (2008) states that qualitative data collection methods vary using unstructured or semi-
structured techniques. Some common methods include focus groups (group discussions), individual interviews, and
participation/observations. The sample size is typically small, and respondents are selected to fulfill a given quota.

Based on this definition, the qualitative data collection of this research included four in-depth interviews with the Public
Relations Officer from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigrations because the office deals with provision of national
documents, the Chief Regional Officer of Ohangwena Regional Council because he is the Chief officer in the region
administering daily activities of the region and the Chairperson of the Ohangwena Regional Council, the Acting Deputy
Director from the Ministry of Gender and Child Welfare, Ohangwena Regional Office. The respondents were expected to
avail detailed and quality information about the problem due to their knowledge and experience. All interviews were
video recorded for further use in this project.

Another qualitative method of data collection was public meetings in three constituents of Endola, Epembe and
Omundangilo. The meetings gathered information regarding challenges and effects facing people without national
documents and suggestions to solve the problem. The meetings were videotaped for further use in the project.

Quantitative Data Collection

According to Kothari (2008), quantitative research is used to quantify the problem by way of generating numerical data
or data that can be transformed into useable statistics. It is used to quantify attitudes, opinions, behaviors, and other
defined variables and generalize results from a larger sample population. Quantitative research uses measurable data
to formulate facts and uncover patterns in research. Quantitative data collection methods include various forms of
surveys online surveys, paper surveys, mobile surveys and kiosk surveys, face-to-face interviews, telephone
interviews, longitudinal studies, website interceptors, online polls, and systematic observations.

In addition, this research adopted a quantitative design to describe the current situation of undocumented residents in
Ohangwena region. A survey was conducted through a self-administered questionnaire to generate information of the
people who are living and affected by the practices undocumented in the area. For the purpose of this research, surveys
for non-probability sampling among stratified population were adopted. This method allowed any undocumented resident

16
to be part of this research. The research had a sample of no less than a 100 persons living in Ohangwena region. This
research included people of both sex, from the age level 16 and above.

Interpretive phase
Analysis of the gathered information was conducted in line with the methods used to collect the particular information.
According to Kothari (2008) states that data analysis is the process of evaluating data using analytical and logical
reasoning to examine each component of the data provided. This form of analysis is just one of the many steps that
must be completed when conducting a research experiment. Data from various sources is gathered, reviewed, and then
analyzed to form some sort of finding or conclusion. There are a variety of specific data analysis method, some of which
include data mining, text analytics, business intelligence, and data visualizations.

Quantitative Data Analysis

It is a systematic approach to investigations during which numerical data is collected and/or the researcher transforms
what is collected or observed into numerical data. It often describes a situation or event; answering the 'what' and 'how
many' questions you may have about something. This is research, which involves measuring or counting attributes
(http://archive.learnhigher.ac.uk/analysethis/main/quantitative.html).

In this research, quantitative data analysis applied the following procedure: to capture information from the surveys, to
codify the data, to convert into percentages, to produce graphs and charts and finally to analyze the information. The
analysis of the data considered the use of the theory. The use of Excel was employed to facilitate the process.

Qualitative Data Analysis

The analysis of qualitative research involves aiming to uncover and / or understand the big picture - by using the data to
describe the phenomenon. Qualitative analysis involves labeling and coding all of the data in order that similarities and
differences can be recognized. Responses from even an unstructured qualitative interview can be entered into a
computer in order for it to be coded, counted and analysed. Content analysis can be used when qualitative data has
been collected through: Interviews, focus groups, observation and documentary analysis.
http://libweb.surrey.ac.uk/library/skills/Introduction%20to%20Research%20and%20Managing%20Information%20Leices
ter/page_75.htm).

In this study, qualitative data analysis involved the information, which was collected in, in-depth interviews with officials
from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigrations, the CRO of Ohangwena and local leaders in the area. Thematic
mode was considered in the data presentation with the incorporation of the theory.

17
Regarding data collection for documentary production, the researcher used it to produce a video documentary, which is
used to inform the public about the problem at hand, and help the government and the line ministry to find possible
solutions.

Communication phase
Once all data was analysed, the final report was written and a television documentary was produced. The findings of the
research were communicated to the class through a presentation to inform and seek feedback from the peer. The
corrected version was shared to the NUST Library, to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration, to the Ohangwena
Regional Council and all other forms of communication such as social media.

18
Chapter IV: Presentation and analysis of data

4.1 Overview of the chapter

This chapter presents results from data collected in Ohangwena region between June and August 2016. Both
quantitative and qualitative methods were used to collect data. The results featured in this chapter are from
questionnaires and in- depth interviews.

4.2 Methods of data collection

The questionnaire was used to collect information from the people of Ohangwena who do not have national documents;
birth certificates and national Identity Cards, while results from qualitative data acquired through in-depth interviews with
the community at large, Omulonga Constituency Councilor and also the Chairperson of the Ohangwena Regional
Council, Acting Chief Regional Officer of Ohangwena Regional Council, Regional Head of Ministry of Child Welfare and
the Public Relations Officer Ministry of Home Affairs.

4.3 Data presentation on quantitative method

A questionnaire was designed and distributed among different people of Ohangwena region. A total of hundred and
twenty questionnaires were distributed to the entire sample population of the study, 101 questionnaires were completed
and returned for analysis but two questionnaires were spoiled.

19
4.3.1 Sex of the respondent

Sex

33%
Female
Male
67%

Figure 1. Sex of the respondent

In this research, representation for sex stands at 67% for female and 33% for male.

4.3.2 Age of the respondent

0 5 years 6%
06 10 years 37%
11 15 years 13%
16 20 years 2%
21 25 years 7%
26 30 years 3%
31 35 years 6%
36 - 40 years 4%
41 years and above 22%

Table 1. Age of the respondent

The respondents who were surveyed represented all age group from 05-60 upwards. According to the figure above, the
age group 06-10 has more respondent at 37%, followed by age group 41 and above that stands at 22% while age group
16-20 have the least respondents respectively.

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4.3.3 Education Qualification
Education qualifcation

97%

3% 0% 0% 0% 0%

None Grade 10 Grade 12 Bachelor Master Doctorate

Degree

Figure 2. Education Qualification of the respondents

According to figure 2, 97% of the responded have not education background, and those that has, have never reached
grade 10. 3% of the responded has grade 10 certificates, and for the rest educational level stands at 0%.

4.3.4 Nationality
Nationality

Others (specify 0%

Zimbabwean 0%

Zambian 0%

Angolan 12%

Namibian 88%

Figure 3. Nationality of respondents

Figure 3 shows that the majority of the responded surveyed are Namibians by birth, with 88% and Angolan at 12%,
while other nationality stands at 0%.

21
4.3.5 Which documents among the following do you possess?
Possession of the documents

0%
8%

Birth certificate
Identity document
None
92%

Figure 4. Possession of national documents by respondents

Figure 4. shows that 92% of the responded has no national documents, while 8% has birth certificates and none of them
have Identity document/cards.

4.3.6 are your children in possession of the following documents?

Possession of the documents by children
Birth certificates Identity documents Others

24%

0%

76%

Figure 5. Possession of the documents by children

Figure 5 displays that 24 % of the children of the responded has birth certificates, but none of them (0%) have Identity
cards and 76% have others documents which are church papers.

22
4.3.7 Have you ever voted in the General election of the country?
Voting in General Elections
56%
44%

Yes No

Fig 6. Voting in the General Elections

Figure 6 shows that 44% of the respondents voted in the general election while 56% of respondents did not partake in
voting.

3.4.8 In case you are non-Namibian, for how long have you been in the country?

0 5 years 0%

6 10 years 25%
11 15 years 17%
16 years and above 58%

Table 2. Shows the years that responded that are not Namibian by birth have stayed in Namibia.

In no chorological order, respondents who stayed in Namibia for years 0-5 stands at 0%, 6-10 years are at 3%, 11-15
years stands at 2% and 16 years and above stands at 7% respectively.

23
3.4.9 have you ever applied for the Namibian National ID?
Application of National Documents

32% 68%

Yes
No

Figure 7. Application of National Documents

Figure 7 shows the percentages of people without national documents that have applied and those that did not apply for
national documents at all. About 32% of the respondents have tried to apply for National Documents but to no avail,
while 68% have never applied for national documents, some did not know the importance of it and some with the facts
that they dont have papers and means to apply.

3.4.10 for how long have you been trying to get a Namibian National ID?

0 5 years 41%
6 10 years 25%
10 15 years 16%
16 years and above 18%

Table 3. Number of years those that applied have been trying to get national document

Table 3 indicates how long (as in years) those that made efforts to apply for national documents have tried.
Those that tried from 0-5 years stands at 13%, 6-10 years stands at 8%, 10-15 years stands at 5% and 16
years and above stands at 5%.

24
4.4 Qualitative method
The qualitative research was divided into two sections, the first one were interviews divided into four segments and
second community meetings. Data from qualitative methods was analysed through in depth interviews as indicated in
the table below.

Name of Institution Name and Title of Interviewee

Ministry of Urban and Rural development- Hon Erickson Ndawanifwa. - Omulonga Constituency
Regional Council Councilor and also the Chairperson of the Ohangwena
regional council.

Ministry of Urban and Rural development- Ohangwena Mr. Phillepus Shilongo - Acting Chief Regional Officer
Regional Council
Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare Mrs Shipwata Acting Deputy Director Ohangwena
regional office- Social Worker by profession
Ohangwena Regional Office

Public Relations Officer Ministry of Home Affairs. Mr. Sakeus Kadhikwa

Table 4. Participants interviewed

4.4.1 Challenges pertaining the issue of lack of National Documents

The interviewees agreed that there is a problem when it comes to the issue of national documents. Answering to the
question of what are the challenges when it comes to the issue of lack of National Documents, the Chief Regional
Officer of Ohangwena Region narrates that, Ohangwena is a region of which most of the people have relatives that are
between Namibia and Angola, hence the lack of national documents among the community. He said although some
people might have church documents (baptism cards) they might not be in possession of legal national documents.

Chairperson of the Ohangwena Regional Council, Hon Erickson Ndawanifwa as a Regional Councilor also says that the
community members walk long distances, and it is very difficult for them to go to town where there is a Home Affairs
Office. Some of them stay until old age, and when they reach old age, they wish to get social grants like other elderly
people, thats when they start looking for National Documents. This is when questions at the Ministry of Home Affairs
and Immigration comes in; where have they been until that age without national documents? (Ndawanifwa, 2016)

Lydia Shipwata, the Acting Deputy Director in the Ministry of Gender and Child welfare said they have a challenge in the
ministry because time and again they are approached by parents/guardians who want national documents for their
children so they can be registered for social grants. She however, noted by quoting the constitution of Namibia, that its
the right of children to acquire a name and a national identity.

Most parents do not have national documents, and this means their children wont have national documents as well; it is
really difficult. Sometime children are also delayed when it comes to enrolments in schools, if they get enrolled; it will still
get to them when they are in grade 10 or 12 because they are required to have an identity when they register for
examinations.

25
Shillongo acknowledged the importance of national documents, when it comes to travelling or opening banking
accounts. But he thinks that the issue of asking church papers at Home Affair is somehow complex, even though 99% of
Namibians are Christians you will find people that live in the vicinity of church but they cannot access the church
services or belongs to any of the churches. In the other cases, church leaders are also asking that in order to qualify for
some papers you should reach some requirements such as if you do not pay some church contributions, they wont give
you the card which is a requirement at Home Affairs. Relying mostly on the church might cut out those that do not
belong to any church who are not yet baptized.

On the issue of requirements, Kadhikwa said in case where people are asked to bring health passports (hospital card) of
the day they were born, they can always go to the hospitals where they were born, each government institution has a
record kept in the archived. What is challenging again for Regional Councilors is that the Ministry of Home Affairs and
Immigration employees sometimes send people to the office of the Councilors instead of advising their Minister, by
saying this law is preventing our people to get national documents, and maybe we can propose a change that can
accommodate our people.

4.4.2 Responses at hands on the issue of lack of National Documents

Ndawanifwa said the community thinks if they report their problems to the regional councilors office they expect
immediate assistance. But they do not understand that that the regional councilors are there to protect and uphold the
constitution of Namibia as well as the laws. We are not here to influence for the laws not to be adhered to thus we
direct the community to Home Affairs provided they have all the requirements, but most of the people do not have the
required documents.

In his constituency, Ndawanifwa has collected data from schools in his constituency to see how many learners do not
have national documents, according to his assessment done up until the 21 April 2016, from 12 school among 25
schools, 640 children in school do not have national documents. Ndawanifwa has written a letter to the Deputy Minister
of Education and Culture informing her of the situation at hands, of the learners without national documents in his
constituency.

Meanwhile, Kadhikwa says the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration does send out teams to go register children at
particular schools; he said there was also a team sent to Ohangwena this year, although he could not mention the
school mentioned, he said they visited some of the secondary schools in Ohangwena Region.

Ndawanifwa also sent a questionnaire to headmen in his constituency to record numbers of people without national
documents; 847 people without national documents were recorded. Some of the reasons are that their parents do not
have national documents; some do not have parents, their parents are dead or they dont know where they are, and for
some reasons are not known.

26
Kadhikwa admitted that there is a lack of communication in the regions, and people also do not care about acquiring
national documents unless it benefits them, e.g social grants and inheritance. However, people should understand that
it is very difficult for the Ministry to register someone whose parents are deceased.

On the issues of adults without national document, the Ministry deals with every case differently, Kadhikwa noted. He
stand by saying the Ministry doesnt send people back home; that is if a person has stayed in Namibia for long without
national documents, the Ministry have officials that scrutinize these cases. This happens because most of the people
Ohangwena just want to benefit from the social grants.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Gender and Child Welfare has raised its concern that the Ministry of Home Affairs refers
people to their Ministry without anything in writing. And in most cases the Ministry of Gender and Child Welfare also do
not have enough social workers to investigate the cases referred to them by Home Affairs.

Kadhikwa sensitized that since the turnaround strategy, the Ministry gives authority to mothers to register their children
on their surnames with or without the presence of the father. Once the father comes, then you can change the kids
surname to the fathers surname, free of charge. However, traditionally especially in the Oshiwambo tradition the
registration of a kid on a mothers surname is not allowed, though it is legally allowed.

Kadhikwa says they also partake in trade fairs; this is a mechanism to take their service to the people. However, they
are trying to come up with e-registration of births at the hospitals before the parents leave the hospitals; this will help
trace all births and it will make the issue out birth certificates to the parents easier.

4.4.3 Causes of lack of National Documents

Phillep Shilongo said one of the biggest causes of lack of national document is that, Ohangwena is bordering Angola,
and some of the Ohangwena residents opted to reside in Angola either for grazing or food production. As a result, their
kids cross over to Namibia to attend school every day, and also for medical purposes. These people are Namibians but
because they chose to reside in Angola for some reasons, they are consequently suffering together with their children.
In the spirit of Harambee, and the spirit of eradicating poverty, we need to treat issues on special cases because the
merits may not be the same.

However, Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration Public Relation Officer (PRO), Sakeus Kadhikwa said the Ministry is
aware and has experienced in the past that, a lot of population residing in Ohangwena region has migrated from
Namibia to Angola and Vise Versa. The challenge that the Ministry and Namibia is facing is the control of peoples
movement between Namibia and Angola. This is probably because of lack of the proper infrastructure, when it comes to
immigration and boarder control.

(Shilongo, 2016) he said another critical issue regarding the lack of national document among the community is that
most of the old people still possess the old South African identity document. This does not become automatic that they
get national documents; it is a process that requires extra supporting documents

27
Shilongo further explained that there are also a lot of San people in Ohangwena region, as for the San people, as per
their culture, they might not be informed, and sometimes they dont see the need of possessing a national documents,
as most of the time they give birth at home. These are nomadic people and they move a lot for survivals, therefore
tracing them becomes difficult also for the government.

Some of these parents are very ignorant that they did not get national documents for their children until they get to know
of the grants. (Shipwata 2016) Parents also do not give names to children before birth, culturally, and this slow down the
process. Because if the child has a name by birth, they cannot leave the hospital without national documents if the
parents requirements are clear.

4.4.4. Possible solutions to the issue of lack of National Documents

Ohangwena Regional Officer, Phillep Shilongo suggest that the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration launch a
special campaign, first to advocate for the importance of national documents, and secondary to ensure that all our
eligible nationals have the necessary documents. To safeguard this, he said the Ministry of Home affairs and
immigration should come up with a campaign to ensure that the special population groups at least possess national
documents. He also suggested that special outreach programme that targets old people are put in place.

Ndawanifwa suggest that Home Affairs takes their services close to the people, and educate people on the
requirements, and not always the people travelling long distances without getting any help. The Ministry and the
Regional council should come together to discuss how this people could be helped. (Ndawanifwa 2016), Sometimes the
kids are referred to Ministry of Gender but Gender also get stuck somewhere. This number will not decrease, this will
just increase in future, and this is a chain, where are we expecting our region to be?

This region was a war zone, but we need to find ways to help our people, Ndawanifwa as he request the Ministry of
Home Affairs to speed up the process. Especially for people who have been in the country for more than 10 years after
the war but up to now they didnt get citizenship. Ndawanifwa questioned how is the country going to eradicate poverty if
it continues to have undocumented citizens.

Answering to the question why people complains of files getting lost and misplaced, Kadhikwa said the Ministry has a
database of all the people that are legally registered, the remaining manual files remaining are also in a process of being
scanned and have them electronically loaded. This will help in case if the person lost, his/her document will be easily
traced on the National Population System. (NPL) If you are not on the system, thats when you are asked to bring your
parents and health passport if you were born in the hospital.

Ministry of Home Affairs should employ more of its own social workers to investigate cases of lack of national
documents, especially among children and the disabled. (Shipwata, 2016) Parents should also note the importance of
getting national documents, as this will affect them and their childrens future.

28
The Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigrations PRO stressed that the Ministry has tried to educate the people on how to
acquire national documents. However, there are more plans to take the message close to the people. Plans of
conducting public outreaches, updating the Ministrys website as a way of targeting the population thats educated are
on the card. For those that are not educated, the Ministry will engage with headmen, chiefs, Ministry of Health, and
joining the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology when they are going for community shows and
meetings as well as the Ministry of Education, to help identify those without national documents.

Kadhikwa said the Ministry has to sacrifice to go and interview people because the mandate of the Ministry is to make
sure that every Namibian has a national document, as long as the person is being straightforward and being truthful.

Kadhikwa lastly said, Leaders in the regions can also help record/gather statistics of the people without national
documents in their areas and the Ministry of Home Affairs can help send a mobile team to that specific area for
assistance.

The CRO of Ohangwena region encourages that the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration together with the Ministry
of poverty should have a strategy to ensure that no Namibia should feel left out like some of these people are feeling
today. I am not advocating for Angolans to become Namibian but those bonafide of Namibia should really be given the
necessary support irrespective of where they are finding themselves Shilongo

4.5 Qualitative Method; Community meetings.

Another qualitative method of data collection was public meetings in three constituents of Endola, Epembe and
Omundangilo.

4.5.1 Reasons of not having national documents

At the community meetings held at the regional councilors offices by the researcher in the three constituencies;
Ongenga, Epembe and Omundaungilo, and at Okanghudi Combined School in Ondobe circuit, community members
have similar problems although each case have different details.

Elina Matheus from Okangholo has 3 children that do not have Birth certificates. She does not know where the father of
her first born is and when she went to Home Affairs for birth certificate, they are asking for a letter from the headman.
When she took the letter to them, they are telling her that the letter is not correctly written. They also requested for a
church paper but she said she couldnt even afford to go pay for those church papers. The other two of her children, also
not have birth certificates and when they go to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration with the father of the
children for birth certificate, they are asking for the church card but the children are not baptized, so they have nowhere
to get the church card. The children are not baptized because there is no money and the church is asking for N$ 100 per
child.

29
Another woman says her parents are Namibian and she is also born in Namibia. She moved to Angola for school and
she met a man, and they got married. She came back to Namibia before the war ends. She went to Eenhana for the
South African ID application. However, she was given a receipt as a proof that she has applied for an ID card,
unfortunately she lost her receipt and she went to report the issue at Ministry of Home Affairs, Eenhana. All they have
done is, they took my figure print. She narrates that after many years of follow ups, the officials at the Home Affairs and
Immigration finally told her to look for her parents Birth Certificate and she told them that her parents has passed on long
time back. She said all she was told is that, if she wants her ID card, she must first find her parents Birth certificate.

Peneyambeko Sheyadiva 60 years old form Omadano village taking care of her mother Anna Nghitotelwa 130 years old,
they said both are Namibians but they do not have national documents and they do not receive any pension from the
government. She has been trying to get national documents for the two of them but to no avail. She said only one of
their children has a national document, the rest the grand children both do not have national documents.

A teacher from Okanghudi combined school-narrates why most of the learners at their school do not have national
documents, she said this is because most of the kids do not know where their parents are, and they are just raised by
their grandparents. Children without national documents at this school are about 308.

It was noted that most of these children only have church cards (Baptism certificates). One learner said the father wants
him to have a birth certificate but the mother does not want and he does not know the reason behind. Another learner
she said that, she does not know the parents at all, she lives with the grandmother. The other one was born in Namibia
but later went to Angola with a relative, when she came back she was too old to start school and she didnt have
national documents. So, she started school in grade three from/through Literacy-adult education.

Statistics obtained from Ministry of Education and Culture in the Ohangwena region indicates that, there are about 501
learners in Endola circuits without National documents, 1 209 learners in Ohangwena circuit, 520 learners in Ondobe
circuit, and 1 251 learners in Ongha circuit, this are just four circuits of the nine circuits in Ohangwena region.

Ohangwena Circuit 1209 Learners

Ondobe Circuit 520 Learners
Ongha Circuit 1 251 Learners
Endola Circuit 501 Learners
Table 5. Learners without National Documents from the four Circuits of the nine Circuits of Ohangwena region.

30
4.5.2 the effects of not having national documents
The teacher from Okanghudi raised a concern that children cannot be registered for government grants because they
dont have birth certificate; it is also a challenge when it comes to writing grade 10 examinations, and partaking in sport
activities; having a national document in this case is compulsory and our learners are left behind in this case

Josef Samuel from Etomba village, a soldier, he has applied for an ID in 1992, he was given the old Namibian ID card,
and when he went to Home Affairs to upgrade to the latest Namibian ID they are asking him for his birth certificate, and
he doesnt have a birth certificate. Joseph was a PLAN fighter; therefore he went to Angola in 1976 as a soldier. He
wants a birth certificate but he has only his mother documents, his father passed on while he was still in Angola. This is
difficult even when he want to get services that other public servants are entitled to, getting to the bank without national
documents is futile.

Erastus Nafinge form Ohangwena region is requesting the Government to build more than one office dealing with
Documentations in Ohangwena because if you do not have an Identity Card for instance, you will not be free to move
especially during holidays and you cannot do something on your own without witnesses. I am having my grandmother,
since 2005 she does not have any document but I have been trying to get her documents. For her to get the documents
there must be witnesses, especially the people she was born with, but where do I get this people if they are long dead?
He questioned.

A very old man describe how difficult it is trying to get national documents for his grandchild who was left with him by the
mother, he is very concerned about the grandchild without a birth certificate since 2004. He tried to get the ID of the
parents and when he is calling them to go to Home Affairs the parents of the grandchild are nowhere to be found. He is
requesting the police to look for them because himself he is old he cannot do anything, he is tired of trying for the
grandchild and he said he is getting old and this kid will be his only eye left.

Most of the children are orphans, and the guardians might be very old people and sometimes do not know where the
parents of their grandchildren are, which becomes a challenge when it comes to acquiring national documents. Another
concern is that during the school days, kids are in school and during holidays, home Affairs offices are very full that they
cannot attend to all the people including learners in this short time.

Jonas Hanena is concerned about school learners dropping out because they do not have documents. When only one
of the parents has documents, learners cannot go forward without the ID, for instance and when it comes to grade 10,
learners are requested to have their IDs for examination and if they do not have they end up dropping out of school.

One lady narrates in a video tape how she went to Eenhana Clinic and they told them that, if your medical card is
completed you will not get a new one, unless you have an ID and for those that do not have they went back without help.
These are some of the challenges people without national documents faces.

31
Peneyambeko Sheyadiva is a 60 years old form Omadano village taking care of her mother Anna Nghitotelwa 130 years
old, said since they do not have national documents, they do not receive any pension from the government as old
people in poverty.

Gabriel Shapumba from Ombabi village had the old ID and the church paper but no birth certificate. He lost his ID and
the church paper and when he requested the church to give him a new one, they are taking too long. He has been trying
for 3 years to get the national documents but all that is hindering him is that the officials are asking for a church paper

Another young lady narrated how she was chased at the Home Affairs office because she does not have a birth
certificate at her age, although her father has a Namibian national document, her mother doesnt have any document
and this is hindering her as a child.

Hambeleleni Nakatase from Epembe is taking care of her three sisters children who passed on in 2004. Both of them
they do not have birth certificates. She tried to get all the papers including the church cards and letter from the
headmen. When she went to home Affairs, they are asking for a letter from the school the kids were schooling and two
witness from the fathers side. She said only one of the children has ever attended school but she also dropped out in
2004 because of some sicknesses. These kids are orphans and one is disabled and she says she cant afford to take
care of all of them.

Most of the community members are complaining that officers from Home Affairs and Immigration arent treating them
right; they are referring to them as Angolans and sometimes threaten them that the police will deport them to Angola. A
situation they are not pleasant with.

4.5.3 suggestions by the community to solve the problems of lack of national

documents
Delishia ndeludila from Omulunga wa Shikongo she has been in Namibia for 16 years. She said just like the others, she
has been trying for many years to get national documents and all she wants is to be assisted by the government to get
legal Namibian documents.

Peneyambeko Sheyadiva is requesting the government to help them with national documents and get pension like
others since they are suffering.

Another lady is requesting the government to look into the matter of voting, as to why do they have to vote in the
Namibia general elections and they are allowed to have witnesses for them to get Election card but not allowed to have
witnesses to get the national documents.

Hilma Nenghulo born in Angola, the father is an Angolan while the mother is a Namibian. Her mother passed on while
she was young. She has been in Namibia for 14 years. She went to Eenhana for National documents but they did not
help. She is requesting the government to help her and get pension like other old ladies.

32
The teacher from Okanghudi combined school request for the extension of working days at the Home Affairs and
Immigration Offices, at least from Monday to Friday instead of sticking to the three days of assisting with national
documents.

She also requests that Home Affair resume the programme of going school to school to register children without national
documents, because children do not get time to go stand at the Ministry of Home Affairs offices, they have classes to
attend.

33
Chapter V: Conclusion/Summary of findings and recommendations

5.1 Overview of the chapter

This chapter gives an overview of summary of findings, conclusions and recommendations. A set of eleven questions
were analyzed and responded upon in the previous chapter. Four leaders/experts or rather people that deal with the
issue of lack of national documents on a daily basis were approached and interviewed; Omulonga Constituency
Councilor and also the Chairperson of the Ohangwena regional council, Acting Chief Regional Officer of Ohangwena
regional council, Acting Deputy Director of Ministry of Child Welfare Ohangwena regional office and the Public Relations
Officer Ministry of Home Affairs, and the community at large. It was important to get the above peoples opinions for final
conclusion and recommendations.

5.2 Summary of Findings

It is evident that the new ways of managing social policies imply that the lack of legal identity produces exclusions when
potential beneficiaries attempt to access benefits offered by the government. Thus, it is necessary to think about long-
term strategies that accompany these social policies, based on coordination among social programs and actors and the
responsible agencies in the country, both for birth registration and the issuance of identity.

Some of the key findings of this research are:

According to data collected in the questioners, quantitative method indicates that, majority of the responded surveyed
are Namibians by birth, with 88% and Angolan at 12%, while other nationality stands at 0%. Of these, 92% of the
responded has no national documents, while 8% has birth certificates and none of them have Identity document/cards.
Equally, 76% of the respondents children only have church certificates (Baptism cards) and 24 % of their children have
birth certificates.

Children are dropping out of schools because writing grade 10 and 12 examinations as well as applying for a study
grant/scholarship requires one to have national documents. Most of these children do not posses national documents
because even their own parents do not have national documents.

Hence, 97% of the responded have not education background, and those that has, have never reached grade 10. Only
3% of the responded has grade 10 certificates, and for the rest educational level stands at 0%, rates grade 0-9.

A lot of youth out of school without national documents are also making babies without national documents, this

34
continues like a chain, and it affects the future of the innocent children. It is worth noting that most of these people live
far from town and most of the time they give birth at home. Living in a rural and sometimes inaccessible area, being
illiterate, and giving birth at home are all variables that negatively affect the possibility of registering births in a timely
fashion, setting a precedent for future problems of documentation.

Secondly, most people at the deep rural areas have a lack of information on the importance of getting national
documents, and they are now victims of not having national documents and therefore excluded when it comes to
assistance provided by the government. This same people travel long distances to Ministry of Home Affairs and
Immigration hence sometimes they are discouraged by the distance and the type of assistance they receive at the
offices, of being sent back to get different papers, every time they visit the office.

56 % of the of the respondent were not able to exercise their civil rights of voting in the previous general election while,
44% voted by presenting witnesses to vouch for them by oath under virtue of sworn statement that they are indeed
Namibian citizens.

Some of the people without national documents are Angolans that have resided in Namibia for more than 10 years, they
moved here because of work, families and war, and most of them votes here and they now look at themselves as
Namibians although they do not have national documents. 58% of the respondents that are non-Namibians indicate that
they have stayed in Namibia for more than 16 years.

Another worth noting finding is that parents are dropping children at the villages and they go look for greener pasture,
forgetting their homes and their children. A lots of people met during the research do not know where their parents are.

Some children are also sent to Angola for early marriage and to be taken care of by families in Angola, and parents do
not consider getting national documents first for such children. When it is time to come back home, Namibia, they suffer
the consequences of not having national documents.

Likewise, the estimates of both problems are similar. It is also estimated that these data are greatly underestimated with
respect the indigenous population contacted only represented about 1/3 of the region.

35
5.3 Conclusions

It is widely known that German and South Africa ruled Namibia, hence migration and resettlement across the Namibia-
Angola boarder was no exceptional. At that time, many Namibians fled to Angola to join the liberation struggle, and after
Namibias war of Independence, it didnt get any better as the Angolas civil was still going on.

Today, cross boarder family and ethnic ties, unemployment and refugee movements from Angola to Namibia just like in
the past force people to cross the border.

Having a document that verifies ones identity is fundamental for any citizen to be able to access rights, benefits, and
services. The researcher came to conclusion that failure to register deliveries and absence of legal identity especially in
Ohangwena region has a direct influence on possibilities and opportunities for full involvement in social, political, and
economic life. Although the registration of birth does not in itself guarantee access to good education, proper health
care, social protection, or citizen participation, its absence however has placed those fundamental rights beyond
peoples reach.

With the current President of Namibia, His Excellency Hage Geingobs declaration of war to poverty, there are
government programs that are suppose to benefit the poor and the vulnerable, to improve their situations, but all of the
programs they require proof of legal identity of the potential beneficiaries of the benefits that they grant, which in all
cases are aimed at addressing and compensating situations of poverty.

For example, a disable child who lives in a poor, rural and/or indigenous family that cannot prove his or her identity with
a birth certificate will more likely be excluded from receiving a social grant for children with disabilities, or an elderly
person that is poor and/or indigenous and does not have an identity document will not be able to access economic
assistance. If a woman is poor and/or indigenous and has minor children, she will be excluded from access to economic
assistance as well if she cannot prove her legal identity by means of an identity document, although she is part of the
target population that the program is aimed to assist.

Therefore, un-documentation of certain citizens has become a contributing factor to poverty. The prohibition of the
people from access opportunities and activities is a non-material aspect of poverty that must be recognized and tackled.

However, The civil registry authority, which is the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration are aware of the importance
of universal, efficient, and timely registration, not only because of the social, political, and economic implications for
people, but also because of the importance of the information that civil registries produce as input to the national
systems of vital statistics. The national authorities recognize the challenges, but they lack the tools to measure and
mitigate problems of exclusion due to lack of legal identity. This is a barrier to the development of efficient public
programs.

36
The issue of children dropping out of schools because of lack of national documents is also a contributing factor to
poverty; these children later go in the streets and start making babies that will also not have any national documents. At
the end of the day, it is a chain of citizens without national documents, and as a results, they are excluded from social,
education and economic life.

Namibia is reminded of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) as a milestone document in the history of
human rights; it is a common standard of achievements for all people and all nations. It stipulates that every individual
and every organ of society, should keep the declaration in mind, and shall strive by teaching and education to promote
respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, nationals and internationals, to secure their
universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the people of territories under their jurisdiction.

5.4 Recommendations for action

The researcher recommends that the channels of dialogue should be established between the line Ministries, regional
and the traditional leaders to facilitate the exchange of experiences and knowledge, which will enable Ohangwena
region to guarantee the right to legal identity without exclusion or discrimination of any kind.

The birth certificate is the basic document for the generation of any other identity document (i.e., a passport, national
identity document, voter registration card, etc.). Therefore, the government must be the most interested party in having
the services of the civil registry centered on the physical person; that is, to guarantee universality of registration and the
veracity of the information. Consequently, the promotion and improvement of the supply is possible through legal,
procedural, and organizational reforms that will guarantee regional coverage and access to legal identity, incorporating
decentralized service delivery strategies.

The Ministry of Home Affairs could also take actions that will include for example, making schools and health centers
nodes through which problems of documentation (whether the lack of a birth certificate or of an identity document) are
detected. The schools should work with the civil registries to define the procedures to resolve these situations, their
origin, follow-up, and implementation of the response, and, for example, organize community fairs where documentation
problems can be addressed. The media should also strive to report on stories regarding people without national
documents

5.5 Recommendations for further studies

Further research should be done in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration when it comes to the process of
issuing national documents and the way officials treats the community members.

37
I recommend further research to be done with the churches and headmen, since they are also heavily involved when it
comes to the requirements of acquiring national documents.

38
List of Tables
Table 1: Shows the age of the respondents

Table 2: Shows the years that responded that are not Namibian by birth have stayed in Namibia.

Table 3. Number of years those that applied have been trying to get national document

Table 4. Participants interviewed

Table 5. Learners without National Documents from the four Circuits of the nine Circuits of Ohangwena region

List of Figures
Fig 1: Sex of the respondents

Fig 2; Education qualifications of the respondents

Fig 3: Nationality of the respondents

Fig 4: Possession of national documents by respondents

Fig 5: Possessions of national documents by respondents children

Fig 6: Percentage of respondents that voted and those that didnt vote in the general election of the country

Fig 7: Percentages of people without national documents that have applied and those that did not apply for national
documents at all.

Fig 8: Number of years those that applied for national documents have been trying to acquire the documents.

39
 References
Primary sources:

Abeng Law Firm <theabenglawfirm.com/about.htm> [Accessed 2 Aug. 2016]

Creswell, J. (2003). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches, Second Edition, Sage
Publications, New Delhi, India.

Dodds, J (2010). Editorial Journal of Tropical Pediatrics, Vol. 56, no. 2,

Du Plooy, G (2009. Communication Research, Juta Publications, SA.

Hofstede, G. (2001). Culture's Consequences: Comparing Values, Behaviors, Institutions, and Organizations Across
Nations, Second Ed. Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, California.

Nangulah S. and Nickanor N. (2005) Northern Gate Way: Cross Border Migration between Namibia and Angola

Nicola Jentzsch (2009) Financial Services for the Poor: Lack of Personal Identification Documents Impedes Access, V5
n17 p115, German Institutefor Economic Research, Berlin.

Niikondo, A. (2006). Regional Integration in (SADC): A Case Study of Namibias Cross Border Migration Issues in
Oshikango, Windhoek, Namibia.

Ills, K. (2003) Innovations in Education and Teaching International, v40 n2 p209, Department of Education, US

Mouton R. and Dirkx E. (2010). Scraping the Pot: San in Namibia Two Decades After Independence chap7. Namibia

Namibia (1990). The Constitution of the Republic of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia

Other relevant reports, published papers, monographs. (1 page, single spacing)

Mathieson, J., Popay, J., Enoch, E., Escorel, S., Hernandez, M., Johnston, H., & and Rispel, L. (2008). Social
Exclusion Meaning, measurement and experience and links to health inequalities. (Paper 1). Lancaster
University, UK.

Namibia Planning Commission (2004), Ohangwena poverty report

National Planning Commission, (2008). Third Namibia Development Plan, Volume 1.

Namukanda awaits identity documents for 20 years, News story NBC TV News (16 Oct 2014)

40
National Census (2011). National Planning Commission. Retrieved March 16, 2016 from
http://www.npc.gov.na/census/index.htm
National Planning Commission (2014), Namibia poverty mapping report Windhoek, Namibia.

Ndawanifwa, E. (2016, June 29) personal interview

Polytechnic of Namibia, (2011). Prospectus, Windhoek, Namibia.

Social Exclusion Unit (2003). Making the Connections: final report on Transport and Social Exclusion, viewed
April 2016, http://.socialexclusionnit.gov.uk/publications/report/html/transportfinal/summary

Shidhudhu, T. (2014). NBC News, Namukanda Awaits Identity Document for more than 20 years

Shilongo, P. (2016, June 29) personal interview

UNICEF (2012) Birth registration field assessment report

UNICEF on Deficient Birth Registration in Developing Countries: Population and Development Review, Vol. 24,
No. 3 (Sep., 1998), pp. 659-664

United Nations. United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989. Retrieved march 20, 2016 from
http://www.unhchr.ch/html/ menu3/b/k2crc.htm

Wittenkamp, C. (2011). Building Bridges Across Cultural Differences, Miami, US

http://www.humanium.org/en/fundamental-rights/identity/A guide to ethical issues retrieved April 14, 2016from

wwww.research-ethics.net

http://www.unicef.org/namibia/SitAn_part_2.pdf

41
Appendices

QUESTIONERS

My name is Katrina Jacob, studying towards Hon. Degree in Journalism and Communication
Technology final year at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (the former Polytechnic
of Namibia). I would like to ask for your time to answer the following questions. Your answers will
highly be treated with confidentiality.

Please answer the questions as honest as possible. Truthful responses would provide strong
presentation that might lead to the rectification of the issue of not having national documents. I
appreciate your time and generosity.

1. Sex:

Female 67%
Male 33%

2. Age

05 6%
06 10 37%
11 15 13%
16 20 2%

42
 21 25 7%
26 30 3%
31 35 6%
36 - 40 4%
41 and above 22%

3. Education Qualification (Choose the highest that you possess)

None 97%
Grade 10 3%
Grade 12 0%
Bachelor Degree 0%
Master 0%
Doctorate 0%

1. What is your nationality?

Namibian 88%
Angolan 12%
Zambian 0%
Zimbabwean 0%
Others (specify 0%

2. Which documents among the following do you possess? You can tick more than one

Birth certificate 8%
Identity document 0%
None 91%

3. Do your children in possession of the following?

Birth certificates 24%

Identity documents 0%
Others (specify) 76%

4. Have you ever voted in the General election of the country?

Yes 44%
No 56%

5. In case you a non-Namibian. How long have you been in the country?
05 0%
6 10 25%
11 15 17%
16 and above 58%

43
 6. Have you ever applied for the Namibian National ID?
Yes 32%
No 68%

7. For how long have you been trying to get a Namibian National ID?

05 41%
6 10 25%
10 15 16%
16 and above 18%

8. Anything else do you want to add that I have not asked?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND COOPERATION THAT YOU HAVE RENDERED IN THIS EXERCISE

44
 INTERVIEW QUESTIONS TO THE CRO AND TO THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL

My name is Katrina Jacob, studying towards Hon. Degree in Journalism and Communication
Technology final year at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (the former Polytechnic
of Namibia). I would like to ask for your time to answer the following questions. Your answers will
highly be treated with confidentiality.

Please answer the questions as honest as possible. Truthful responses would provide strong
presentation that might lead to the rectification of the issue of not having national documents. I
appreciate your time and generosity.

1. Describe the challenges facing the regional councilors regarding the issue of residents lacking of
national documents?
2. How are you responding to these challenges?
3. What are you suggesting regarding this issue?

45
 INTERVIEW QUESTIONS TO THE MINISTRY OF GENDER AND CHILD WELFARE

My name is Katrina Jacob, studying towards Hon. Degree in Journalism and Communication
Technology final year at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (the former Polytechnic
of Namibia). I would like to ask for your time to answer the following questions. Your answers will
highly be treated with confidentiality.

Please answer the questions as honest as possible. Truthful responses would provide strong
presentation that might lead to the rectification of the issue of not having national documents. I
appreciate your time and generosity.

1. What challenges do you face on a daily basis when it comes to the issue of national documents?
2. According to your own experience what are the main problems that lead to lack of national
documents?
3. How are you handling this issue?
4. Suggestions to solve the problem?

46
 INTERVIEW QUESTIONS TO THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS AND IMMIGRATION

My name is Katrina Jacob, studying towards Hon. Degree in Journalism and Communication
Technology final year at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (the former Polytechnic
of Namibia). I would like to ask for your time to answer the following questions. Your answers will
highly be treated with confidentiality.

Please answer the questions as honest as possible. Truthful responses would provide strong
presentation that might lead to the rectification of the issue of not having national documents. I
appreciate your time and generosity.

1. Give us a picture of Ohangwena regions statistics of the people without national documents
and the people you have helped to get national documents for the past 5 years
2. What are the main challenges when it comes to issuing of national documents?
3. Any relevant information that probably does not reach the people that you would like to share,
esp to the people without national documents?
4. What are the measures in place in assisting the people without national documents, the school
children, elderly people and the youth out of school because of the issue of lack of national
documents?
5. What is the way forward for Home affairs, regarding the issue of national documents?

47
Letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs

6/05/2016

Patrick Nandago

The Permanent Secretary

Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration

My name is Katrina Jacob, studying towards my Hon. Degree in Journalism and Communication
Technology final year at the Namibian University of Science and Technology then Polytechnic of
Namibia. I am writing to inform you that I will be doing an academic research in the Ohangwena
region on the effect of undocumented people of Ohangwena.

I have worked in the Ohangwena region as an Information Officer for the Ministry of Information for
about three years and a half. Working with the community, the issue of lack of national documents
such as birth certificates and identification document (ID) came to my attention several times.
Hence, my aspiration to carry out this research and find the causes of undocumented citizens and
hope to achieve the successful facts on how the problem of not having National Identity Documents
in Ohangwena Region impact the life of the society and how it can be resolved.

This study is significant because it will shed light on the plight of residents who are not documented
in ohangwena region and also help the government of Namibia and the line Ministry to understand
better the problem and contribute to the search for practical solutions that will help Namibia, and
Ohangwena region in particular to achieve universal, stable, open, and secure legal identity for all of
their citizens

It is against this background that I am asking your good office to organize an appointment for an
interview for the week of the 13 June to 24 June. And inform me which day and time will be
appropriate.

The final product which is a TV documentary that will be shared to the NUST Library, to the Ministry
of Home Affairs and Immigration, to the Ohangwena Regional Council- Ministry of Information and
all other forms of communication such as social media.

48
PS: This research has been approved by the Namibian University of Science and Technology; please
find attached the ethical clearance form attached.

Thank you for your usual assistance.

Yours sincerely

Katrina Jacob 081 1564054/081 3312719

49
Letter to the Constituency councilors in Ohangwena region

6/05/2016

Dear Hon

My name is Katrina Jacob, studying towards my Hon. Degree in Journalism and Communication Technology final
year at the Namibian University of Science and Technology then Polytechnic of Namibia. I am writing to inform
you that I will be doing an academic research in the Ohangwena region on the effect of undocumented people of
Ohangwena.

I have worked in the Ohangwena region as an Information Officer for the Ministry of Information for about three
years and a half. Working with the community, the issue of lack of national documents such as birth certificates
and identification document (ID) came to my attention several times. Hence, my aspiration to carry out this
research and find the causes of undocumented citizens and hope to achieve the successful facts on how the
problem of not having National Identity Documents in Ohangwena Region impact the life of the society and how
it can be resolved.

This study is significant because it will shed light on the plight of residents who are not documented in
ohangwena region and also help the government of Namibia and the line Ministry to understand better the
problem and contribute to the search for practical solutions that will help Namibia, and Ohangwena region in
particular to achieve universal, stable, open, and secure legal identity for all of their citizens

It is against this background that I am asking you to help me distribute the attached questioners to the people of
your constituency and to call a community meeting on the week of the 13 June to 24 June. And inform me which
day and time will be appropriate to visit people without identity documents in your constituency. As you pass on
this questioners please ask the people of your constituency to please answer the questions as honest as
possible. Truthful responses would provide strong presentation that might lead to the rectification of the issue of
not having national documents.

The final product which is a TV documentary that will be shared to the NUST Library, to the Ministry of Home
Affairs and Immigration, to the Ohangwena Regional Council- Ministry of Information and all other forms of
communication such as social media.

PS: This research has been approved by the Namibian University of Science and Technology; please find
attached the ethical clearance form attached.

50
Thank you for your usual assistance.

Yours

Katrina Jacob

081 1564054/081 3312719

51
Picture 1.

Picture 2.

Picture
1, is the 60 years old woman that take care of a about 130 years old woman in picture 2, both of them
do not have national documents, just like their children and grandchildren. The documents they are in
possession of are voting cards.

Picture 3.

52
 Picture

4.

Picture 3 and 4, shows the researcher conducting a community meeting at Endola constituency
office.

53