Sankwasa orders nationwide land ownership audit
Put citizens first, minister says
Urban and rural development minister Sankwasa James Sankwasa has announced a sweeping nationwide land audit, warning that all land allocations by local authorities will be scrutinised for legality, ownership and compliance with ministerial approval.
This comes as government moves to clamp down on land mismanagement, speculation and abuse of public resources.
Addressing an induction workshop for regional and local authority councillors from Kavango East, Kavango West and Zambezi on Monday in Rundu, Sankwasa said the audit aims to determine urban land ownership, how it was acquired, its value and other details.
“The purpose of this land audit is to establish the correctness of who owns what land in town, at what value, and under whose authority,” Sankwasa said. “Without ministerial approval, you cannot claim that the land is yours. The Act is very clear in that regard.”
The minister raised serious concerns over unpaid plots held by senior government officials and councillors, warning that such practices are depriving local authorities of revenue and pushing councils towards financial instability.
“You find that some senior officials have up to five plots in their names, but they have never paid the municipality,” he claimed. “On paper, the land appears allocated, but no money has been received. Councils are stuck, yet they are expected to function.”
The minister, moreover, stressed the importance of clearly distinguishing land allocated for residential, business and institutional purposes, adding that informal settlements require careful planning to prevent abuse and misuse of land.
The audit will also examine foreign ownership of land, including whether allocations were properly authorised and whether prime land has been unlawfully acquired.
“This audit will help us understand how many foreign nationals own land and whether that land is prime or otherwise. At the moment, I do not get clear answers when I ask,” Sankwasa said.
Regional bias
Sankwasa strongly criticised employment practices that prioritise regional origin over merit, warning that such tendencies undermine national unity and constitutional principles.
“Even if you apply from elsewhere, if you are not from Kavango or Zambezi, you cannot qualify,” he said. “If you are not from the region, you cannot qualify. So the CROs and directors must all be from that region – including even our governance," he said, adding: "Where is ‘One Namibia, One Nation’? Where is it?”
He said the exclusion of qualified Namibians based on regional affiliation contradicts the country’s founding principles and perpetuates division within public institutions.
Tenders and accountability
The minister also criticised abuses in joint venture arrangements, where local companies are allegedly used merely to secure tenders before being sidelined once contracts are awarded.
“When a tender is submitted as a joint venture with a Namibian company and the contract is signed, before the ink dries the local company is pushed out,” he charged. “They are paid off and excluded from the project. We must monetise joint ventures properly.”
Sankwasa reminded local authorities that the law allows them to borrow funds for development projects, including housing, provided due process is followed and approval is obtained from the finance ministry.
“Local authorities can borrow money, but what we see instead are constant bailouts,” he said. “There is no budget excuse. What are you doing for yourselves? Nothing.”
According to the minister, only two local authorities have accessed loans to build houses in the past nine months, despite widespread housing shortages.
He also urged councils to revive cash-for-work programmes, which provide temporary employment while maintaining towns and settlements, noting that funding exists but uptake remains unacceptably low.
On housing delivery, Sankwasa warned against speculative land practices and auctions that inflate prices beyond the reach of ordinary citizens, stressing that allocations must reflect the real cost of land.
He said the land audit, together with stricter oversight of tenders, employment practices, borrowing and housing delivery, signals a firm push towards accountability, transparency and lawful administration across Namibia’s regional and local authorities.
Political leaders found to have benefited from illegal land allocations or speculative practices, he warned, will be held accountable.
“This is about putting Namibians first – in land, in jobs and in development,” Sankwasa said. “No more prioritising foreign companies over local people, no more ethnic bias in employment, and no more dependence on bailouts when councils have the power to act for themselves.”
This comes as government moves to clamp down on land mismanagement, speculation and abuse of public resources.
Addressing an induction workshop for regional and local authority councillors from Kavango East, Kavango West and Zambezi on Monday in Rundu, Sankwasa said the audit aims to determine urban land ownership, how it was acquired, its value and other details.
“The purpose of this land audit is to establish the correctness of who owns what land in town, at what value, and under whose authority,” Sankwasa said. “Without ministerial approval, you cannot claim that the land is yours. The Act is very clear in that regard.”
The minister raised serious concerns over unpaid plots held by senior government officials and councillors, warning that such practices are depriving local authorities of revenue and pushing councils towards financial instability.
“You find that some senior officials have up to five plots in their names, but they have never paid the municipality,” he claimed. “On paper, the land appears allocated, but no money has been received. Councils are stuck, yet they are expected to function.”
The minister, moreover, stressed the importance of clearly distinguishing land allocated for residential, business and institutional purposes, adding that informal settlements require careful planning to prevent abuse and misuse of land.
The audit will also examine foreign ownership of land, including whether allocations were properly authorised and whether prime land has been unlawfully acquired.
“This audit will help us understand how many foreign nationals own land and whether that land is prime or otherwise. At the moment, I do not get clear answers when I ask,” Sankwasa said.
Regional bias
Sankwasa strongly criticised employment practices that prioritise regional origin over merit, warning that such tendencies undermine national unity and constitutional principles.
“Even if you apply from elsewhere, if you are not from Kavango or Zambezi, you cannot qualify,” he said. “If you are not from the region, you cannot qualify. So the CROs and directors must all be from that region – including even our governance," he said, adding: "Where is ‘One Namibia, One Nation’? Where is it?”
He said the exclusion of qualified Namibians based on regional affiliation contradicts the country’s founding principles and perpetuates division within public institutions.
Tenders and accountability
The minister also criticised abuses in joint venture arrangements, where local companies are allegedly used merely to secure tenders before being sidelined once contracts are awarded.
“When a tender is submitted as a joint venture with a Namibian company and the contract is signed, before the ink dries the local company is pushed out,” he charged. “They are paid off and excluded from the project. We must monetise joint ventures properly.”
Sankwasa reminded local authorities that the law allows them to borrow funds for development projects, including housing, provided due process is followed and approval is obtained from the finance ministry.
“Local authorities can borrow money, but what we see instead are constant bailouts,” he said. “There is no budget excuse. What are you doing for yourselves? Nothing.”
According to the minister, only two local authorities have accessed loans to build houses in the past nine months, despite widespread housing shortages.
He also urged councils to revive cash-for-work programmes, which provide temporary employment while maintaining towns and settlements, noting that funding exists but uptake remains unacceptably low.
On housing delivery, Sankwasa warned against speculative land practices and auctions that inflate prices beyond the reach of ordinary citizens, stressing that allocations must reflect the real cost of land.
He said the land audit, together with stricter oversight of tenders, employment practices, borrowing and housing delivery, signals a firm push towards accountability, transparency and lawful administration across Namibia’s regional and local authorities.
Political leaders found to have benefited from illegal land allocations or speculative practices, he warned, will be held accountable.
“This is about putting Namibians first – in land, in jobs and in development,” Sankwasa said. “No more prioritising foreign companies over local people, no more ethnic bias in employment, and no more dependence on bailouts when councils have the power to act for themselves.”
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article