BREAKING NEWS - Sankwasa warns chiefs over misuse of state funds

Minister of urban and rural development James Sankwasa has warned traditional leaders against mismanaging state funds, raising questions about the administration of money linked to Oonani Investments Group, the investment arm of the Namibia Traditional Authorities Trust (NTAT).

“You as chiefs also must understand that the funds you are getting is still state funds. It’s not private funds,” Sankwasa said at the 27th Annual Meeting of the Council of Traditional Leaders in Otjiwarongo today.

He said follow-ups had revealed withdrawals from accounts without explanations of the services the money was meant to fund, while traditional authority councillors were allegedly unaware of how the funds were being managed.

Sankwasa said the money should benefit communities through projects such as household electricity connections, gardens and assistance for sick people needing hospital care.

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