Cabinet approves electronic IDs

NAMIBIA is set to intro- duce electronic iden- tification documents (eIDs), which the Home Affairs Minister said will make it easi- er and faster for stakeholders to identify and confirm the identi- ties of their clients. Dr Kawana did not specify a date for introducing e-IDs but disputed assertions that new ID cards are being made with chips that will allow authorities to track people’s activities or damage anyone believed to be anti-government.

“These advanced ID docu- ments comply with the Interna- tional Civil Aviation Organisa- tion’s requirements. Namibia is currently looking towards ex- panding this service to other neighbouring countries,” he said.

An electronic identification document (eID) is a physical identity card used for online and offline personal identifica- tion or authentication, which citizens can also utilise. This programme has already received the backing of the Bank of Namibia and other financial institutions. “This is the most convenient method because, in other coun- tries, that card will include your medical records, driver’s license, birth certificate, voter card, and biometrics such as your finger that do not require ink for veri- fication. We must move with the world and not fall behind.

Cab- inet has approved the Fourth Industrial Revolution Policy, and Namibia must keep up with technological advancements.

We should avoid the culture of always playing catch up,” he re- marked. Dr Kawana said the minis- try is engaging stakeholders in information sessions to under- stand better the characteristics and applications of eIDs and how best they will help their particular institutions.