Legal Assistance Centre Director Toni Hancox has affirmed that, under Chapter 2 of the Namibian Constitution, citizenship is determined by birthplace and parentage.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah recently appointed Luvindao as the health minister and Dino Balloti as the education deputy minister. The appointments have drawn criticism from some sections of the media and public, questioning their eligibility due to their parentage.
Hancox said individuals born in Namibia to parents who were legally residing in the country at the time of birth are Namibian citizens by law unless specific legal restrictions apply to their parents.
Hancox referred to sub-article C, which states that if a person is born in Namibia and one of their parents is Namibian, then they qualify for Namibian citizenship. She also explained that if a child is born in Namibia while their parents are residing in the country, they will be granted Namibian citizenship, unless there are specific circumstances involving the parents,such as the parents being in Namibia on foreign missions, then the child may not be considered a Namibian citizen.
“If they (parents)are here illegally there’s a number of things that you know… (or) if they’re here for the defence force of a different country etc.. but if they (parents) are living here as ordinary residents whether they are not Namibians it definitely says that the minister herself will be Namibian because she was born here so under that sub-article, both are Namibians. So, we’re speaking about Namibian people and that’s for the president so I’m assuming if you’re Namibian you’re also entitled to be part of the ministries so as a minister or deputy minister or part of the national council etc. So the constitution in that sense is clear if you’re a Namibian, and you’re a fit and proper person then you can be so elected,” said Hancox.
Hancox further emphasised that the appointed ministers fully qualify for their positions and urged the public to give them a fair chance to serve.
“ From my personal point of view, I would say give people a chance. We know that our situation, our health and social services situation is under stress so let’s give them a chance and see what happens. It is supposed to be for the youth after all we are living for the youth, I think,” said Hancox.
Luvindao was born to Congolese and Angolan parents who were residents of Namibia. She grew up in Katutura and graduated from Unam with a medical degree.
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