Also known as: Sankwasa · Minister Sankwasa · Minister of urban and rural development James Sankwasa · minister James Sankwasa · minister of urban and rural development · Hon. Sankwasa · line minister · urban and rural development minister · the Minister of Urban and Rural Development · Sankwasa James Sankwasa · Minister of Urban and Rural Development, James Sankwasa
Minister of urban and rural development overseeing local authority governance, infrastructure, and traditional authority disputes in Namibia.
Kunene Regional Council employees face a financial crisis after minister James Sankwasa blocked funds allocated to the council following a dispute over the appointment of acting chief regional officer George Kamseb in 2021. Staff have not received salaries for March and April, and the council has taken the matter to the High Court while seeking alternative payment methods.
14 hours ago · The Namibian →
Kunene Regional Council employees face a financial crisis after minister James Sankwasa blocked funds allocated to the council following a dispute over the appointment of acting chief regional officer George Kamseb in 2021. Staff have not received salaries for March and April, and the council has taken the matter to the High Court while seeking alternative payment methods.
14 hours ago · The Namibian →
Urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa has halted government funds to the Kunene Regional Council, demanding removal of acting chief regional officer George Kamseb, whose appointment is being challenged in court. The council's chairperson Western Muharukua describes the fund freeze as unlawful pressure and says it threatens to disrupt salaries, services, and capital projects; the council plans to seek judicial review.
20 April 2026 · New Era →
Katima Mulilo CEO Raphael Liswaniso has been suspended again by the minister of urban and rural development, days after an arbitrator ordered his previous suspension lifted and directed he be paid lost income. His representative claims the fresh suspension violates the binding arbitration award and the rule of law.
17 April 2026 · New Era →
Over half of Namibia's 1.5 million urban residents are straining municipal capacity to deliver housing, infrastructure, and services, with informal settlements housing over 40% of residents in some towns. Officials have called for improved governance, accountability, and collaboration between councils and municipal staff to manage urbanisation effectively.
17 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Suspended Katima Mulilo Town Council chief executive Raphael Liswaniso, who won a labour case against his first suspension on 28 October, was suspended a second time on Monday. Liswaniso and his lawyer argue that minister of urban and rural development James Sankwasa forced the council into the latest suspension through a directive letter marked urgent, while a local authorities president raises concerns about the arbitrary suspension of CEOs under political pressure.
16 April 2026 · The Namibian →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah announced plans to establish a manufacturing facility in Otjiwarongo to produce cost-effective building materials locally, reducing reliance on imports and lowering construction costs. The initiative is part of broader efforts to tackle high housing costs and improve access to affordable housing for ordinary Namibians.
16 April 2026 · New Era →
Namibia's Traditional Authorities Act and Council of Traditional Leaders Act are undergoing review to address growing concerns about splinter groups seeking independent recognition based on geography rather than shared ancestry and culture. Minister James Sankwasa said the current laws, in place for over two decades, must be reformed to distinguish between chiefs and community leaders and prevent the framework from being exploited for political purposes.
15 April 2026 · New Era →
Minister James Sankwasa visited Rundu to help resolve a years-long succession dispute over the Gciriku Traditional Authority following the death of Hompa Kassian Shiyambi in 2019, but a consultation session ended without naming a successor. The minister indicated that additional stakeholders must be heard and that customary law, rather than courts, should determine the leadership outcome, while the vacancy continues to block land allocation and traditional administration functions.
15 April 2026 · New Era →
Minister Sankwasa opened a consultative workshop in Otjiwarongo to review and amend the Traditional Authorities Act 2000 and the Council of Traditional Leaders Act 1997. The minister cited ongoing problems including leadership disputes, proliferation of communities seeking recognition, and the misuse of the Acts for political purposes rather than preserving traditions and cultures.
15 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Minister James Sankwasa said the current Traditional Authorities Act is outdated and misunderstood, leading to tribal splinter groups seeking separate recognition rather than maintaining cohesive traditional leadership structures. The government is proposing amendments to the act and holding a workshop with traditional leaders to gather input on governance and accountability reforms.
14 April 2026 · The Namibian →