Lawyers flag fraud risks over domicile certificates

Questions over fraudulent documents and marriages of convenience have been raised following the introduction of certificates of domicile for foreign nationals married to Namibian citizens.

Lawyers say the new system needs proper checks to ensure people do not use fake documents or enter marriages mainly to obtain legal status in Namibia.

The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security started issuing the certificates yesterday.

Lawyer Nafimane Halweendo has welcomed the introduction of domicile certificates for foreign nationals married in good faith to Namibian citizens.

“Love is hard to find and if you can only find it in a foreigner and it is genuine, then definitely yes,” Halweendo says.

Halweendo says the system is appropriate for genuine marriages between Namibians and foreign nationals, but questions remain over people who may marry to secure legal status in Namibia.