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.
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June 2026
Windhoek Observer
Minister James Sankwasareminded traditional leadersthat communal land remains state property and chiefs are custodians rather than owners
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“The recent remarks by Rural and Urban Development Minister James Sankwasa, reminding traditional leaders that communal land remains state property and that chiefs are custodians rather than owners, have reignited an important national conversation that extends far beyond the coronation of VaGciriku Hompa Bartholomeus Aruvita Kayoka.”
Rural and urban development minister James Sankwasareiteratedcommunal land across Namibia remains state property
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“Allexer Namundjembo Rural and urban development minister James Sankwasa has reiterated that communal land across Namibia remains state property, warning traditional leaders against any attempts to treat or trade it as privately owned land.”
SankwasaannouncedKayoka as the rightful successor in early May 2026
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“Following consultations and further assessment, Sankwasa announced Kayoka as the rightful successor in early May 2026 and formally endorsed his installation as Hompa.”
Minister James SankwasadirectedNHE board to extend Gisbertus Mukulu's contract until replacement appointed
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“Urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa has directed the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) board to extend chief executive Gisbertus Mukulu's contract until a replacement is appointed and assumes office.”
James Sankwasasuspended the disbursement of funds tothe KRC in May
Source
“In May, Sankwasa suspended the disbursement of funds to the KRC, citing concerns over the continued presence of acting chief regional officer George Kamseb.”
Minister James SankwasadirectedNHE board to renew or extend CEO Gisbertus Mukulu's contract until new leader appointed
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“The National Housing Enterprise (NHE) board has been directed to renew or extend the contract of chief executive officer (CEO) Gisbertus Mukulu until a new leader is appointed and assumes duty. This is contained in a letter dated 25 June by minister of urban and rural development James Sankwasa.”
Urban and rural development minister James SankwasasaysLocal Authorities Act already before parliament for amendment
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“Urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa says the Local Authorities Act is already before parliament for amendment, but any changes will apply to all local authorities.”
James Sankwasais threatened to be appealed to by workersregarding their grievances against the municipality's CEO
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“Tensions at the Keetmanshoop municipality escalated on Wednesday after workers threatened to take their grievances against acting chief executive officer Desiree Boois to urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa if their demands are not addressed.”
James Sankwasareceived petition for removal of||Khomani Traditional Authority chief
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“A petition calling for the removal of ||Khomani Traditional Authority chief Julienne Gawanas has formally been submitted to urban and rural development minister, James Sankwasa in terms of Section 12(2) of the Traditional Authorities Act, Act 25 of 2000.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
Urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa warned that local authorities will not receive budget allocations unless they can demonstrate audited financial statements.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.