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Thursday, 23 July 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Thursday, 23 July 2026
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Namibian press · Person

James Sankwasa

Also known as: Minister Sankwasa · Minister of urban and rural development James Sankwasa · minister James Sankwasa · Hon. Sankwasa · Minister of Urban and Rural Development, James Sankwasa · Adolf Kaure Urban and Rural Development Minister James Sankwasa · urban development minister James Sankwasa

James Sankwasa — Minister of Urban and Rural Development, warning regional councils over accountability and service delivery.

2024-09-222026-07-23
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What’s been said

Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.

  1. December 2025

  2. The Namibian

    Sankwasa disputed the city's legal opinion that councillors do not need the minister's permission

    Source

    “The legal opinion was then sent to Sankwasa, who has disputed it.”

    N$20 million travel refund: Windhoek ex-councillors defy minister Sankwasa
  3. November 2025

  4. The Namibian

    Local government minister James Sankwasa proposed law-aided power grabs at and bullied elected officials at municipalities and regional councils

    Source

    “Local government minister James Sankwasa's proposed law-aided power grabs at several towns and his bullying of elected officials at municipalities and regional councils is a clear indication of the central government's overbearing grip on local authorities.”

    Make Local Elections Relevant, They’re Not Popularity Contests

  5. The Namibian

    Minister James Sankwasa used his official role to campaign for Swapo using the tribal card

    Source

    “The 'One Namibia, One Nation' project has no champion when ministers like James Sankwasa comfortably use their official role to campaign for Swapo using the tribal card.”

    Why Racism, Tribalism Thrive in Namibia

  6. The Namibian

    James Sankwasa is minister of urban and rural development

    Source

    “In the leadership of the minister of urban and rural development, James Sankwasa, and, of course, our president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, we are beginning to witness a restoration of the values that once defined us.”

    This House Too Shall Be Clean
  7. September 2025

  8. The Namibian

    James Sankwasa acted decisively on alleged irregularities in local government as minister of urban and rural development

    Source

    “As minister of urban and rural development, Sankwasa has acted decisively on alleged irregularities in local government.”

    Are Sankwasa and Nekundi Setting a New Standard for Political Accountability?

  9. The Namibian

    Sankwasa ordered a former mayor at Omuthiya to reimburse funds earned while employed elsewhere

    Source

    “He intervened in dubious land transactions at Katima Mulilo, exposed officials in Kunene for claiming allowances on fictitious trips and ordered a former mayor at Omuthiya to reimburse funds earned while employed elsewhere.”

    Are Sankwasa and Nekundi Setting a New Standard for Political Accountability?
  10. July 2025

  11. The Namibian

    Minister James Sankwasa issued directive for land acquired through alleged barter system to be returned

    Source

    “However, minister of urban and rural development James Sankwasa's directive for this land that was acquired through an alleged battering system to be returned may just end or delay this ambitious project.”

    Multimillion-dollar resort to be constructed on plot exchanged for vehicles
  12. September 2024

  13. The Namibian

    Former deputy transport minister James Sankwasa said in 2018 that highway road tenders were riddled with corruption

    Source

    “Former deputy transport minister Sankwasa James Sankwasa in 2018 said highway road tenders were riddled with corruption.”

    Controversy erupts over N$1-billion Opuwo-Epupa road tender amid allegations of favouritism and lack of approval
Agriculture & Land

Government allocates N$10 million for rural Food/Cash for Work Programme

The News

The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development has warned regional councils to improve project implementation and service delivery while announcing a N$10 million allocation for the Food/Cash for Work Programme to provide temporary income support to vulnerable households and strengthen rural resilience. According to the deputy minister, 50.5% of Namibia's population lives in rural areas, and while some regional councils have made progress, others struggle with poor implementation.

16 hours ago · Informanté →

Yesterday

  1. Government allocates N$10 million for rural Food/Cash for Work Programme

    The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development has warned regional councils to improve project implementation and service delivery while announcing a N$10 million allocation for the Food/Cash for Work Programme to provide temporary income support to vulnerable households and strengthen rural resilience. According to the deputy minister, 50.5% of Namibia's population lives in rural areas, and while some regional councils have made progress, others struggle with poor implementation.

    16 hours ago · Informanté →

Tuesday 21 July

  1. Minister warns rural development era of 'business as usual' is over

    Minister of urban and rural development James Sankwasa has warned that the era of 'business as usual' in rural development is over, cautioning regional councils to improve project implementation and ensure public resources deliver measurable benefits for communities. He expressed concern over incomplete projects, unspent development funds and idle rural development centres, calling for performance-based resource allocation and improved accountability.

    21 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 20 July

  1. Minister blasts Henties Bay acting CEO over water crisis

    Urban and Rural Development Minister James Sankwasa has criticized the Henties Bay municipality's acting chief executive officer as the "poorest of poor performers" amid a water crisis where residents cannot purchase prepaid water after the service provider suspended vending in June over a contractual dispute. The minister's concerns centre on the stalled implementation of an approximately N$27 million prepaid water meter project and has formally objected to the acting CEO's appointment as substantive CEO.

    20 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Thursday 16 July

  1. Minister warns councils budgets depend on audited books

    Urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa warned that local authorities will not receive budget allocations unless they can demonstrate audited financial statements.

    16 July 2026 · Namibian Sun →

Monday 13 July

  1. Parliament approves Eiseb as ACC director general

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah nominated Bryan Eiseb as the new Anti-Corruption Commission director general following a prime ministerial motion; Parliament approved without objection. During the Assembly debate, urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa urged Eiseb to lead the institution "like a wolf and not a donkey," warning against allowing the ACC to be weaponised for political or tribal agendas and stressing the need for independent operation.

    13 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 9 July

  1. Government institutions' municipal debt to Windhoek drops 60%

    Outstanding municipal debt owed by government institutions to the City of Windhoek fell from approximately N$67 million in May to N$27 million in June, a 60% decline attributed to government's crackdown on unpaid accounts. The City's overall debtors' book also improved over the same period, declining from N$912 million in May to N$845 million in June.

    9 July 2026 · New Era →

Tuesday 7 July

  1. Sankwasa warns councils over unauthorised spending practices

    The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development has flagged growing unauthorised spending by regional and local authorities, with minister James Sankwasa warning that some councils are bypassing legal budgeting frameworks, exceeding approved budgets and spending on unapproved projects. Sankwasa said the trend has resulted in mishandling of public funds, diverting resources from essential services and undermining service delivery and public trust.

    7 July 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Minister freezes budgets for councils with unaudited finances

    Minister of urban and rural development James Sankwasa has instructed that councils with outstanding financial reports will not have their budgets approved, stating that some councils have not had their books audited since 2015. Sankwasa described the situation as unacceptable and a violation of the law, questioning how government can ensure public funds are spent appropriately without annual financial audits.

    7 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Saturday 4 July

  1. Chieftaincy requires lineage proof, not political affiliation

    Urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa warned that political party membership will not influence recognition of traditional leaders, stating chieftaincy applications must meet customary law and hereditary succession requirements. Applicants must demonstrate a clear line of hereditary succession linked to recognised royal families and succeed an established chief within their community.

    4 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 3 July

  1. Kunene Regional Council salaries dispute resolved with acting CRO

    The government and Kunene Regional Council have agreed to appoint an acting chief regional officer to restore administrative functions and facilitate salary payments, which were delayed due to a dispute involving the substantive CRO who is subject to legal proceedings.

    3 July 2026 · New Era →

Thursday 2 July

  1. Sankwasa resolves Kunene Regional Council salary dispute

    The Minister of Urban and Rural Development resolved a salary dispute at the Kunene Regional Council by securing agreement to relieve Chief Regional Officer George Kamseb of his duties and appoint an acting chief regional officer, allowing the ministry to release funds for employees' outstanding June 2026 salaries. Kamseb's case remains before the Supreme Court, and he would be reinstated and receive all due remuneration should the court rule in his favour.

    2 July 2026 · Informanté →

  2. Namibia must clarify lines of authority between ministers and regional councils

    An editorial argues that the departure of Chief Regional Officer Kamseb, reportedly following intervention by the Minister of Urban and Rural Development, exposes a persistent ambiguity in Namibia's decentralisation framework over where ministerial oversight ends and regional council authority begins.

    2 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Wednesday 1 July

  1. Task force review of SOE salaries risks failure without implementation

    Former finance minister Calle Schlettwein has warned that a new 11-member task force appointed to review state-owned enterprise salaries over three months will fail without strict implementation and broader structural reforms. He cited previous attempts that failed because SOEs regraded themselves to higher categories and a commission recommendation that was approved but never implemented.

    1 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 30 June

  1. Henties Bay replaces prepaid water meters after contractor system shutdown

    Henties Bay Municipality is replacing prepaid water meters with conventional ones after contractor ITEM Engineering CC disabled the prepaid vending system over a payment dispute. The municipality's acting CEO claims the contractor is illegally demanding 70% of the outstanding N$12 million balance immediately, though payment was not scheduled until the 2026/27 financial year.

    30 June 2026 · Informanté →

  2. PDM leader accuses Swapo of delaying Kunene council salaries

    PDM leader McHenry Venaani accused Swapo of political retaliation over delayed salary payments to 94 employees of the Kunene Regional Council, including four councillors, whose June salaries were blocked following intervention by the urban and rural development minister. Prime minister Elijah Ngurare denied deliberate withholding and attributed the delays to administrative and technical issues.

    30 June 2026 · The Namibian →

  3. Kunene governor insists on Tuesday address despite postponement

    The Kunene region's governor Vipuaakuje Muharukua said he will proceed with a state of the region address on Tuesday, rejecting the regional council's postponement announcement citing lack of quorum. The chief regional officer had cited councillors' unavailability due to unpaid June salaries following a funding block by the urban and rural development minister, but Muharukua said a quorum determination can only be made during a meeting and accused the chief regional officer of attempting to sabotage government operations.

    30 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 29 June

  1. Communal land custodianship debate reignites in Namibia

    Recent remarks by Rural and Urban Development Minister James Sankwasa reminding traditional leaders that communal land is state property and that chiefs are custodians rather than owners have revived discussion about land governance and economic development in Namibia. The article examines the historical colonial origins of the communal land system and the balance between customary authority and national constitutional principles.

    29 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

  2. Minister reiterates communal land is state property, not chiefs'

    Rural and urban development minister James Sankwasa told traditional leaders at a coronation ceremony that communal land across Namibia remains state property and chiefs are only custodians on behalf of the government. Sankwasa stressed that communal land cannot be sold and must be managed within established legal procedures, warning against illegal transactions.

    29 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Sunday 28 June

  1. Minister directs NHE to extend chief executive contract

    The minister of urban and rural development has directed the National Housing Enterprise board to extend chief executive Gisbertus Mukulu's contract until a replacement is appointed and assumes office, citing the need for stability and institutional memory during a leadership transition.

    28 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 26 June

  1. Kunene governor blames council dispute for unpaid salaries

    Kunene governor Vipuakuje Muharukua has accused the Kunene Regional Council of using employees as a "human shield" over a dispute involving George Kamseb's position as chief regional officer, after staff members reportedly did not receive their June salaries. Muharukua said Kamseb and those protecting him are responsible for the salary delays, not minister James Sankwasa, and has invited Sankwasa to a meeting on 1 July to find a solution.

    26 June 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Kunene Regional Council salaries unpaid due to minister suspension

    Kunene Regional Council employees did not receive salaries as government funds remain withheld by the urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa, who suspended disbursement in May citing concerns over the presence of acting chief regional officer George Kamseb. The suspension has also halted several development projects in the region.

    26 June 2026 · New Era →

Thursday 25 June

  1. Minister directs NHE to extend CEO contract until successor takes over

    Minister of urban and rural development James Sankwasa has directed the National Housing Enterprise board to renew or extend CEO Gisbertus Mukulu's contract until a new leader is appointed and assumes duty, with the extension lasting until the end of September or when a new CEO starts, whichever comes first.

    25 June 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Windhoek may seek legal changes for fibre commercialisation project

    The City of Windhoek says it may seek legislative amendments to the Local Authorities Act after the Supreme Court ruled the municipality lacks legal authority to provide telecommunications services. The city views fibre commercialisation as essential to its smart city ambitions.

    25 June 2026 · The Namibian →

  3. Keetmanshoop workers threaten ministerial intervention over CEO dispute

    Workers at Keetmanshoop municipality, represented by NAPWU, handed over a petition calling for the removal of acting CEO Desiree Boois, accusing her of poor management, intimidation, and financial mismanagement. They have threatened to escalate their grievances to urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa if their demands are not addressed.

    25 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Wednesday 24 June

  1. Petition submitted for removal of ||Khomani chief

    A 29-page petition calling for the removal of ||Khomani Traditional Authority chief Julienne Gawanas has been submitted to the urban and rural development minister under the Traditional Authorities Act. The petition, backed by members of the ||Khomani and ǂNūkhoen communities, alleges financial mismanagement including claims that Gawanas cannot account for N$80,000 withdrawn from the Traditional Authority's trust fund and that consent was forged relating to financial signatory authority.

    24 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Wednesday 17 June

  1. Minister warns of attempts to undermine traditional authorities

    Minister of Urban and Rural Development James Sankwasa has raised alarm over what he described as "underground capture" of Namibia's traditional authorities, warning that certain individuals are attempting to destabilise customary leadership structures. He stressed that recognition of traditional leaders will follow customary laws and cultural practices, and cautioned against what he termed the "over-democratisation" of traditional authorities.

    17 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Tuesday 16 June

  1. Ministry of Works water cut over N$9.66m unpaid bill

    The Windhoek municipality disconnected water to the Ministry of Works and Transport's head office over an unpaid utility bill of N$9.66 million; the water was restored yesterday after four days without supply and the minister instructed officials to settle the debt and investigate how it accumulated.

    16 June 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. President honours Kahimemua Nguvauva at Battle anniversary

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah paid tribute to Ombara Kahimemua Nguvauva's legacy during the 130th anniversary commemoration of the Battle of Otjunda in Okahandja, calling on Namibians to uphold unity and reject division as the country reflects on its liberation history.

    16 June 2026 · Informanté →

  3. NHE rejects housing target call from development minister

    The National Housing Enterprise has dismissed urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa's call to build 10,000 houses a year, stating its official annual target differs.

    16 June 2026 · Namibian Sun →

Monday 15 June

  1. Tsumeb CEO appointment approved but not yet formally commenced

    The Minister of urban and rural development approved Calista Schwartz-Gowases's appointment as Tsumeb municipality CEO effective 1 June 2026, but she has not yet received a formal letter of appointment and has not commenced work. The appointment faced internal council dispute over procedural irregularities, with some councillors raising concerns about deviation from the interview panel's recommendation.

    15 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

James Sankwasa — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute