05 Apr 2021

Citizens who are eligible for Omang cards are advised to continue using their birth certificates as a form of identification until further notice.  

Briefing the media on Thursday, Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs, Ms Annah Mokgethi said government was still in the process of developing a new smart identity card (bio-metric card) that would even be used as a passport.

She said the new Omang would be available at the end of the year and pleaded with stakeholders to accept the use of birth certificates.

Ms Mokgethi also requested people that have not renewed their Omang to continue using their expired cards, saying in the event that the card had been lost or stolen they should use the police affidavit for services.

“The ministry has not been able to afford all persons to renew Omang cards because of COVID-19 health protocols which have necessitated officers to work in shifts.

The pandemic has intensified as shown by an increase in positive cases, infections and deaths,” she said.

She said the working conditions translated into reduced capacity for service delivery and appealed to customers to be patient.

Minister Mokgethi said her ministry was doing its part to ensure the safety and well-being of both employees and customers while providing the best possible service.

Outlining measures in place in various departments, she said all services continued to be rendered under COVID-19 regulations.

The minister emphasised that those who wanted to renew Omang in greater Gaborone, it was critical to make bookings to minimise crowding and limit exposure to the disease.She stated that with other offices in the country, services for walk-in customers was allowed.

She, however, said officers would service a set number of customers per day.

Pertaining to social gatherings, Ms Mokgethi said religious services would still be held twice a week with a maximum of 50 people for two hours.

She further said funerals were also to be held within two hours while food provision was strictly prohibited.

For marriage solemnisation, she stated that only four peope would be allowed, adding that wedding celebrations were suspended.

Regarding immigration and citizenship, she said passport issuance and issuance of permits and visa applications were ongoing, and that 11 points of entry and exit still operated for transportation of goods and services.She said only Bokspits, Two Rivers and Tsabong area borders were closed.

Ms Mokgethi also said they were working with stakeholders to respond to ending Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

She called upon the community to condemn GBV in all its forms and manifestations and urged all to move away from the notion that ‘it does not affect me’ as part of efforts to fight GBV. ENDS