Urban and rural development Minister Hon. Sankwasa James Sankwasa has called on local authorities across Namibia to improve service delivery, strengthen financial accountability, and ensure that communities receive tangible results from government promises.
He made the remarks during the opening of the Association for Local Authorities in Namibia (ALAN) Congress held at Narraville Community Hall in Walvis Bay on 10 June. Addressing mayors, councillors, international delegates, development partners and stakeholders, the Minister said local government remains the “frontline of service delivery” where national policies must translate into real improvements in people’s daily lives. He said citizens are not asking for the impossible, but for basic services such as clean water, housing, waste management and proper infrastructure. “The daily cries of the Namibian people are for better and improved service delivery… they want dignity and fairness,” he said.
The Minister raised concern over poor service delivery in many towns, pointing to pothole-filled roads, waste accumulation and neglected public spaces. He said while local authorities often cite lack of funds, many fail to collect outstanding revenue owed to councils. He reminded councils of their legal responsibility to ensure proper financial management and auditing, as required by the Local Authorities Act, and warned that government funding could be withheld from councils that fail to submit audited financial statements. The Minister also directed local authorities to strengthen revenue collection, including taking steps to recover debts owed by government institutions, state entities and businesses. He said councils must ensure that services such as water and electricity are paid for, stressing that failure to enforce payment systems weakens service delivery.
On land delivery, Minister Sankwasa said government is committed to improving access to land for Namibians and warned against speculation and unfair pricing practices. He said land should remain accessible and benefit ordinary citizens. “Land is the very reason we were prepared to die for liberation. No Namibian died for democracy, but for land,” he said. He further urged local authorities to move away from auctioning land to the highest bidder and instead ensure fair access for residents. The Minister also encouraged collaboration between government, local authorities, private sector, civil society and development partners to improve service delivery and economic development. He warned against tribalism and division, saying Namibia must remain “One Namibia, One Nation,” and cautioned against creating inequalities that could undermine unity.
Sankwasa also emphasised that leadership positions are temporary and must be used to serve communities with honesty, accountability and dedication. “We must avoid serving ourselves first and the people last,” he said. He concluded by calling for practical action rather than promises, urging local authorities to turn policies into real results for communities across the country. The Minister officially declared the ALAN Congress open.
By Eileen van der Schyff
