Also known as: MURD
Ministry of Urban and Rural Development — government body allocating housing funds to local authorities and monitoring municipal financial management and service delivery.
News reports
Order a long-term news report on Ministry of Urban and Rural Development
Every mention in the Namibian press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
The Namibian
Ministry of Urban and Rural Development flagged growing case of unauthorised spending by regional and local authorities
“A growing case of unauthorised spending by regional and local authorities has been flagged by the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development.”
Sankwasa warns councils over unauthorised spendingInformanté
Ministry of Urban and Rural Development will release funds for employees' outstanding June 2026 salaries
“The agreement paves the way for the ministry to release funds, enabling all affected employees to receive their outstanding June 2026 salaries in full.”
Sankwasa resolves Kunene salary disputeWindhoek Observer
Ministry of Urban and Rural Development has requested all chief regional officers to coordinate with local authority chief executives to prepare reception sites immediately
“The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development has formally requested all chief regional officers to coordinate with local authority chief executives to prepare these sites immediately, with feedback due by Friday, 3 July 2026.”
Namibia launches voluntary repatriation programme for citizens in South AfricaInformanté
Ministry of Urban and Rural Development is working with Henties Bay Municipality to find solution
“"The water vending system has been closed by the company that installed it. They are demanding a final payment. We are working with the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development to find a speedy solution," Wehl said.”
Henties Bay residents unable to buy water as prepaid vending system goes offlineThe Namibian
Ministry of Urban and Rural Development does not provide funding for graveyard maintenance
“City of Windhoek spokesperson Harold Akwenye says the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development does not provide funding for the maintenance of graveyards because it is the council's responsibility under the parks division.”
Graveyard maintenance burden grows for local authoritiesWindhoek Observer
Ministry of Urban and Rural Development approved 20-Year Structure Plan (2020-2040)
“Swakopmund Municipality chief executive officer Alfeus Benjamin outlined progress on the town's long-term development agenda under the 20-Year Structure Plan (2020-2040), which was approved by the National Planning Board (NPB) and the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development (MURD) in October 2022.”
Swakop pushes for major housing, infrastructure expansionThe Namibian
Ministry of Urban and Rural Development has launched an investigation into Omaruru Municipality following allegations of double plot allocations and governance failures
“The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development has launched an investigation into the Omaruru Municipality following allegations of double plot allocations, governance failures and irregular accommodation arrangements involving the chief executive.”
Sankwasa investigates Omaruru double plot allocationsThe Namibian
Ministry of Urban and Rural Development is reportedly silent and reluctant to intervene
“Another community member, Benediktus Basson, said the community places the blame on the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development for reportedly being silent and reluctant to intervene.”
Vaalgras community frustrated over eight-year delay in appointing traditional authority chiefThe Namibian
Ministry of Urban and Rural Development funded building of 3,106 low-income houses at cost of N$137 million
“The project, funded through the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, is being implemented by the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia in an effort to tackle the country's housing backlog and improve Namibians' living conditions.”
Govt to build 3 000 low-income houses at N$137 millionNew Era
Ministry of Urban and Rural Development did not grant Outapi Town Council's request for support for infrastructure upgrades
“However, implementation has been delayed due to funding constraints after a request for support from the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development was not successful.”
Ongwediva in a sewerage catch-22Minister of urban and rural development James Sankwasa announced that traditional authorities receiving fishing-quota proceeds will face audits by his ministry and the finance ministry, citing concerns over unexplained withdrawals by chiefs and their relatives and warning of potential prosecution for misuse.
4 hours ago · Windhoek Observer →
Minister of urban and rural development James Sankwasa announced that traditional authorities receiving fishing-quota proceeds will face audits by his ministry and the finance ministry, citing concerns over unexplained withdrawals by chiefs and their relatives and warning of potential prosecution for misuse.
4 hours ago · Windhoek Observer →
The City of Windhoek says residents affected by the N$381-million Eneas Peter Nanyemba Road upgrade must relocate to Extensions 8 and 11, even though servicing of Extension 11 only begins in September 2027. Residents have resisted relocation, citing inadequate services and uncertainty over plot allocations.
20 October 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development allocated N$146 million to the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia during the 2025/26 financial year to address the country's housing crisis for low-income earners and vulnerable communities. The ministry completed approximately 1,864 houses countrywide during the period and facilitated construction of 250 sanitation facilities in rural areas.
10 October 2026 · The Namibian →
The Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia, through partnership with the Namibia Housing Action Group, has constructed and delivered over 11 000 low-cost houses countrywide since 1998. Since July last year, the SDFN has constructed and delivered 2 354 houses and established more than 1 000 active savings groups with over 33 000 members across the country's 14 regions.
8 October 2026 · New Era →
The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development rejected Oshakati Town Council's request for a 13% salary increment, citing that employees had already received a 5% increase during the 2025/26 financial year. The council, which sought the increase partly to address housing-related benefits paid to employees since 2017, is now seeking legal advice on discontinuing those benefits.
2 October 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development has approximately N$300 million available for housing construction, but must distribute it among 59 local authorities as budget constraints limit the government's response to growing housing demand. The ministry identified mushrooming informal settlements as a technical challenge, while research is underway to assess the housing market and identify affordable construction methods.
29 September 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Agriculture's Directorate of Veterinary Services reports that foot-and-mouth disease detected in the Karasburg Veterinary District is localized to ||Kharas region, with livestock moved to Otjozondjupa tested negative and no evidence of transmission risk to eight northern regions.
28 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Auditor general Junias Kandjeke found that Aroab Village Council granted a Build Together loan to an applicant earning N$14 700 monthly, exceeding the programme's N$3 000 income threshold. The council chief executive confirmed awareness of the issue and said the applicant must still repay despite ineligibility, noting that others above the income limit also received support due to financial hardship.
27 September 2026 · The Namibian →
An editorial argues that the pattern of traditional authority succession disputes ending up in the High Court—including the latest Masubia case returning to court on 1 October—raises questions about the credibility and effectiveness of Namibia's traditional institutions, even while acknowledging the constitutional right to legal recourse.
25 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Usakos Town Council has acknowledged owing NamWater about N$18 million and appealed to the corporation to reconsider planned water supply reductions and eventual suspension, warning that residents will be most affected. NamWater announced phased supply cuts during September and October, including daily suspensions and eventual complete suspension from 6 to 9 October, citing lack of written acceptance from the council regarding settlement conditions.
24 September 2026 · Informanté →
An internal audit by the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development uncovered widespread financial mismanagement and alleged embezzlement within Oniipa Town Council between 2021 and 2024, with a cash deposit shortage of more than N$568 000 unaccounted for during the 2022/23 financial year. The investigation found that former council cashier David Simataa allegedly embezzled council funds by skipping banking days, splitting deposit slips, and maintaining unsupervised access to the council's strong room.
17 September 2026 · The Namibian →
The City of Windhoek is set to spend N$3.3 million to send 170 employees and 11 councillors to the 2026 Southern Africa Inter-Municipal Sports Association games in Eswatini, scheduled for 20–25 September. The spending has drawn scrutiny given the municipality reported an annual funding shortfall of around N$300 million.
16 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Residents of Otjiwarongo staged a demonstration over the municipality's alleged delays in writing off pensioners' accumulated debt, claiming some eligible pensioners were excluded from a government initiative and accusing councillors of favouritism. The demonstrators demanded a response by 8 September and called on the ministry to extend an 31 August deadline.
4 September 2026 · The Namibian →
/Khomanin Traditional Community is in dispute with the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development over removal of Chief Julien Gawanas and an audit of community finances. The community says it submitted documents including a request for an audit in April 2024 and is awaiting clarity on outcomes, while Minister James Sankwasa says established procedures must be followed.
2 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
A housing affordability report shows the average house price reached N$1.46 million in the second quarter of 2026, requiring a monthly income of about N$43,765 to secure financing. Housing expert Namene Kalili attributes the shortage to insufficient housing construction—Namibia needs to service around 5,000 plots annually but falls far short—compounded by building supply industry constraints.
1 September 2026 · The Namibian →
According to the Namibia Housing Information System, the country has 563 informal settlements and over 200,000 housing needs applications. The system was established to provide a baseline of housing needs, stock, land use, and informal settlements across the country.
26 August 2026 · Informanté →
The Electricity Control Board has warned it will revoke electricity distribution licences from underperforming municipalities and regional councils and transfer networks to operators with proven capacity, following an audit that found widespread non-compliance across Namibia's power infrastructure. The audit of nine distribution licensees found most networks rated poor due to inadequate safety code implementation and substandard maintenance, with ||Kharas, Hardap, and Omaheke regions carrying the highest compliance risk.
25 August 2026 · The Namibian →
An Electricity Control Board audit of Namibia's electricity distribution infrastructure found that most regions have poor infrastructure, with //Kharas, Hardap and Omaheke facing high risk of continued non-compliance. Only Khomas and Otjozondjupa regions were classified as satisfactory.
25 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Kunene Regional Council's 2026/27 budget has remained frozen since March due to a legal dispute over the reinstatement of chief regional officer George Kamseb, leaving the council unable to pay utilities and halting operational and capital projects. The council is only managing to pay staff salaries through a monthly arrangement involving two finance officials travelling to Windhoek, and is awaiting the Supreme Court's pronouncement on the matter.
18 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Lüderitz residents are calling for permanent appointments to vacant executive positions at the town council and improved financial reporting after years of acting appointments and delayed audits. The CEO, strategic executive for finance, and strategic executive for engineering posts have been filled in an acting capacity for almost four years, and the council's financial statements have not been submitted to the auditor general.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
A fire that destroyed N$1.6 million in property at Andara Lodge in Mukwe constituency has exposed gaps in firefighting services; the nearest firefighting vehicle, stationed 25km away in Divundu, was not operational at the time. Local leaders are calling for 24-hour emergency response units and improved firefighting services, noting that fires in the constituency have become common.
15 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare is strengthening its juvenile justice services through screening and diversion of children in conflict with the law, along with pre-sentence impact mitigation reports, as part of broader child protection and well-being programmes.
14 August 2026 · New Era →
The City of Windhoek has declined to renew its security services contract with Namibia Protection Services (NPS), leaving nearly 540 guards facing retrenchment by month end. NPS, a Swapo-linked company, appealed to the City to renew the arrangement, but the City maintained the contract was temporary and has concluded.
10 August 2026 · New Era →
Gobabis municipality is facing a claim of nearly N$1.8 million from Bethlehem Builders over an eight-year-old sewerage project. The High Court hearing was postponed to 12 August 2026 after the municipality's legal representative failed to appear.
10 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
A section of the /Khomani traditional community has threatened a mass demonstration at the ministry of urban and rural development on 1 September, demanding the government respond to calls for the removal of chief Juliane Gawanas and release the outcome of a financial audit covering the past 15 years of the /Khomani Traditional Authority.
4 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Ombalantu Traditional Authority has warned against illegal land sales after a businessman advertised an unfinished mansion for N$27 million in the communal area near Outapi. The authority says land in its jurisdiction cannot be sold; leaseholders are only granted 99-year leases and must consult the authority and Ministry of Urban and Rural Development if compensation is sought.
29 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Thirty people in Gobabis are sweeping the town's streets daily as part of a cash-for-work programme, but are paid in bags of Korean rice donated as drought-relief food rather than cash. Some workers accepted the arrangement while others left after learning of the rice-only payment.
28 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development has warned the Rundu Town Council to follow the law when allocating land, requiring ministerial approval and legal compliance. Minister James Sankwasa also expressed concern over double allocations and called on the council to maintain audit records and involve residents in clean-up programmes.
28 July 2026 · The Namibian →
A letter to the President raises concerns about the lack of a clear Regional Spatial Development Framework in Khomas Region, noting that municipal planning by Windhoek has become the de facto driver of regional growth, and expresses concern over proposals to expand Windhoek's boundary from 41km to 75km radius.
28 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Lawyer Kadhila Amoomo has called on the government to expand affordable housing, regulate the rental market, and review laws driving up home ownership costs, particularly for young people and low-income earners. He argues that vacant state-owned houses should be made available for affordable rental and that housing should be treated as a fundamental human right.
27 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →