29 Jul 2026

The delays experienced in the issuance of replacement of National Identity cards since the beginning of the year have been occasioned by a combination of operational and manpower challenges.

Answering a question in Parliament on Tuesday, the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs Major General Pius Mokgware stated that the primary contributing factors for the delays included capacity constraints in terms of available numbers of personnel within the production process resulting in a substantial backlog of applications awaiting processing.

He remarked that these also included aging production equipment, which had experienced frequent mechanical breakdowns and required regular maintenance, thereby affecting production efficiency.

Maj. Gen. Mokgware indicated that in order to mitigate these challenges, the ministry had implemented several interventions including extended working hours, redeployment of staff to critical production process, continuous engagement with suppliers to expedite the maintenance of production equipment to maximise operational availability.

He told Parliament that these interventions had resulted in steady reduction of the backlog, hence production continued to improve.The minister stated that his ministry was experiencing a gradual improvement of production eradicating the current backlog as the implemented interventions took effect.

He said through stable increase of personnel deployment and continued optimisation of production processes, the ministry expected normal turnaround times for placement Identity Cards to be progressively restored over the coming months.

“My ministry remains committed to ensuring that all eligible applicants receives their IDs as expeditiously as possible and will continue to monitor production performance and implement additional measures where necessary,” he said.

He said the National Registration (Amendment) Act, 2025 provided for the use of passport or driver’s license by individuals awaiting replacement of identity cards, hence advised affected individuals to make use of this provision.

Maj. Gen. Mokgware shared that the Act stated as thus, “An identity card issued in terms of this Act shall be deemed to be the primary source of identification of a person: Provided that where such identity card is defaced, lost, damaged or expired a valid passport issued in terms of the Immigration Act and a valid driver’s license issued by the relevant authorities in Botswana in terms of the Road Traffic Act shall be used as a form of identification until such identity card had been replaced. Notwithstanding the provisions of the proviso to subsection (4), a person whose identity card had been lost damaged or had expired shall produce proof that he has applied the replacement of his identity card when using his passport or driver’s license as proof of identity.”

He stated that his ministry had already shared information about this provision with stakeholders and the public through various platforms and awareness efforts were ongoing. Maj. Gen. Mokgware was responding to the MP for Shashe West, Mr Jeremiah Frenzel who had asked the minister to state the cause of delay in issuing replacement cards for National Identity Cards (Omang) since the beginning of this year and when this shortfall would be addressed.

He further asked if the minister would consider issuing a public statement indicating that upon producing a renewal receipt together with the old Omang, then both private and public services might be rendered as some residents decried the lack of assistance despite producing receipts. ENDS