A Namibian lawmaker has sparked debate with a proposal to require couples where one partner is a foreigner to wait two years before getting married to someone from Namibia. Elma Dienda, a member of the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), argues the measure is necessary to curb marriages of convenience aimed at obtaining citizenship.
Dienda’s proposal comes amid discussions on a new marriage bill tabled by Namibia’s Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, Albert Kawana. The bill, which seeks to replace the Marriage Act of 1961, also restricts marriage to opposite-sex couples.
Dienda argues that a mandatory two-year waiting period would demonstrate a genuine relationship and commitment. She cites concerns about Namibians, particularly women, being targeted by foreigners seeking citizenship through marriage.
“These poor women are afraid to come out to the minister, because this is fraud,” Dienda said, alleging that some foreigners disappear after the marriage with the citizenship certificate obtained.
Nigerians among nationals cited in alleged sham marriages
Dienda’s claims align with reports from the Ministry of Home Affairs in Namibia in 2020, which investigated 70 cases of suspected sham marriages. Nigerians were listed alongside citizens from Zimbabwe, Pakistan, and Egypt as being among those accused of entering such marriages for permanent residency.
However, Dienda’s proposal has drawn criticism for potentially discriminatory practices. Political analyst Henning Melber argues that vetting marriages to a certain degree is standard practice in many countries, but a two-year wait is excessive.
“These precautionary measures can take very different forms and remain moderate to not intervene unduly in the private sphere of individuals,” Melber said.
Nigerian Woman Married to Namibian for 40 Years Opposes Generalization
Rebecca Ndjoze-Ojo, a former Namibian deputy minister who has been married to a Nigerian national for four decades, countered Dienda’s suggestion that all Namibian-foreigner marriages are marriages of convenience.
“My husband is a Nigerian. He has a residential permit, not citizenship. It is not for citizenship that he got married to me,” Ndjoze-Ojo said.
While acknowledging there are instances of abuse, Ndjoze-Ojo cautioned against generalizations. She suggests amending existing regulations to address specific vulnerabilities.
The debate around the marriage bill highlights the tension between protecting Namibian interests and upholding individual rights. The proposal remains under discussion in the Namibian parliament.
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