The Roads Authority (RA) has warned importers of Hong Kong vehicles that applications supported by fraudulent or unverifiable documents will be rejected. This means vehicle importers must be more vigilant to reduce financial risks when importing cars into the Namibian market.
In a statement issued on 15 October, RA’s CEO, Mbahupu Hippy Tjivikua, disclosed a significant increase in applications for vehicles whose registration details, ownership documents and other particulars could not be verified with the relevant Hong Kong authorities.
The RA stated that it would continue processing legitimate applications but would refuse registration where verification failed, in accordance with the Road Traffic and Transport Regulations.
This warning subjects imported vehicles to greater scrutiny and exposes prospective buyers to potential financial losses if they purchase vehicles that cannot subsequently be registered for use on Namibian roads.
The RA described verification as a mandatory safeguard to protect the integrity of Namibia’s vehicle registration system.
Where vehicle import documentation cannot be authenticated, a vehicle may remain unregistered despite the buyer having paid for it, and the buyer may incur additional costs associated with shipping, customs clearance, storage and other import procedures.
For businesses importing vehicles for resale, rejected applications could also lead to delayed transactions, higher operating costs and disputes with customers.
The RA did not disclose the exact number of affected vehicles, the financial value of the disputed imports, or the identities of the transgressors. It also failed to clarify whether the increase in problematic applications was primarily linked to deliberate fraud, altered documents, or deficiencies in otherwise legitimate paperwork.
Nevertheless, the disclosure signals heightened scrutiny of imported vehicles and the documents used to establish their registration and ownership histories.
The RA cautioned that vehicles that fail verification cannot be registered because they do not meet the requirements of the Road Traffic and Transport Regulations, 2001. The RA warned that submitting fraudulent, altered or unverifiable documentation could have consequences beyond the rejection of a registration application.
Cases involving questionable documents may be referred to the Namibian Police Force (NamPol) for investigation and possible prosecution.
“Any vehicle presented with fraudulent, altered, or unverifiable documentation will not be registered, and the matter may be referred to NamPol for investigation and possible prosecution,” the statement read.
The RA further urged applicants to verify vehicle registration details and ownership records with the relevant Hong Kong authorities before submitting applications or financially committing themselves.
“Applicants are strongly urged to ensure that all documents and particulars submitted are genuine, accurate, and capable of being verified by the Hong Kong authorities before submitting an application,” said Tjivikua.
The authority said this would help prevent delays, rejected applications and potential legal consequences.
However, the statement did not set out the specific verification procedures available to private buyers before purchasing or shipping a vehicle to Namibia.
This gap is commercially significant because buyers may discover documentation problems only after incurring substantial costs if verification is deferred until the registration stage.
“The RA cannot and will not register any vehicle that does not satisfy the verification and compliance requirements, regardless of the circumstances presented by the applicant,” Tjivikua added.
Consequently, buyers who acquire vehicles in good faith are not automatically exempt from the requirements if the supporting documentation cannot be authenticated.
The RA emphasised that its position was not intended to halt legitimate imports from Hong Kong, but to ensure vehicles entering Namibia’s registration system comply with the law.
– ebrandt@nepc.com.na
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