RedForce, Sankwasa dispute escalates
RedForce threatens defamation lawsuit
RedForce owner Selma Nangombe has urged the minister to submit his allegations of misconduct by the company to the Anti-Corruption Commission for investigation.
The public dispute between debt collection company RedForce Debt Management and urban and rural development minister Sankwasa James Sankwasa has intensified, with both sides trading accusations and threats of legal action.
The row stems from a directive issued by Sankwasa instructing all local authorities not to renew or enter into new contracts with RedForce.
The company’s lawyers demanded that the minister retract the directive by 13 August, but the minister refused to retract his instruction and dared them to go to court.
He also said if pushed, he would reveal who the company works with within the local authorities, allegedly to get tenders.
Denials
RedForce owner Selma Nangombe has firmly denied allegations by Sankwasa that the company allegedly pays local authority staff and councillors to secure contracts and challenged him to report the matter to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Nangombe said it is inconceivable and wholly inappropriate that a sitting minister, notwithstanding her company’s prior written demand, would persist in making defamatory, reckless and baseless statements without any regard for reputational and commercial damage.
“There is no evidence to support his allegations that I, or my company, have engaged in any improper conduct. Who, specifically, are the councillors he claims we have influenced? He should name them. If such proof existed, why has it not been referred to the ACC for investigation?" she said this week.
Sankwasa also denied RedForce's accusation that his directive is connected to RedForce disconnecting his water at Katima Mulilo.
The minister this week said the house belonged to his daughter and that she owed just N$200 when the water was disconnected after he had confronted Katima Mulilo council officials over the land-for-vehicle deal.
He said his daughter settled an initial amount of N$200, only to be later informed she owed N$1 400, which she also paid, and that there was no outstanding municipal bill.
Solicitation
Sankwasa claimed that during a consultative meeting at the Windhoek Country Club, RedForce sought a meeting with him to maintain existing contracts and secure new ones, a request he said he had declined.
He claimed that he told the company he believed its operations were harmful to Namibians and that he would protect the public from what he described as “economic hawks”.
Sankwasa further alleged that some municipal CEOs and councillors defending RedForce’s operations were “on the payroll” of the company.
“Why fight me for issuing a directive meant to protect the citizens of Namibia? In whose interest are these CEOs and councillors acting?”
The minister also said authorities should investigate the alleged practice of Namibians marrying foreign nationals to obtain citizenship status.
He further argued that municipal service contracts are between residents and councils, not with external debt collection firms, and claimed it was illegal for a third party to disconnect water for residents who had no agreement with the company.
Defamation
Nangombe hit back, saying that Sankwasa's statements are not only false but also made with clear malice and the deliberate intention to bring her and the company's name into disrepute.
"That is defamation in its purest form, and it is unacceptable from any person, let alone a government minister,” Nangombe stressed.
She said her marriage had no bearing on the legitimacy of her company, which she underlined is 100% Namibian-owned and fully compliant with all legal and regulatory requirements.
Nangombe also clarified that the requested meeting with Sankwasa was intended to explain the company’s work and address misconceptions.
RedForce has given Sankwasa until today to retract his directive or face legal action.
Sankwasa stood firm, however, saying he refuses to withdraw it.
“I am here to serve and protect the interests of the Namibian citizens, not economic vultures. I issue directives as constitutionally empowered,” he said.
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The row stems from a directive issued by Sankwasa instructing all local authorities not to renew or enter into new contracts with RedForce.
The company’s lawyers demanded that the minister retract the directive by 13 August, but the minister refused to retract his instruction and dared them to go to court.
He also said if pushed, he would reveal who the company works with within the local authorities, allegedly to get tenders.
Denials
RedForce owner Selma Nangombe has firmly denied allegations by Sankwasa that the company allegedly pays local authority staff and councillors to secure contracts and challenged him to report the matter to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Nangombe said it is inconceivable and wholly inappropriate that a sitting minister, notwithstanding her company’s prior written demand, would persist in making defamatory, reckless and baseless statements without any regard for reputational and commercial damage.
“There is no evidence to support his allegations that I, or my company, have engaged in any improper conduct. Who, specifically, are the councillors he claims we have influenced? He should name them. If such proof existed, why has it not been referred to the ACC for investigation?" she said this week.
Sankwasa also denied RedForce's accusation that his directive is connected to RedForce disconnecting his water at Katima Mulilo.
The minister this week said the house belonged to his daughter and that she owed just N$200 when the water was disconnected after he had confronted Katima Mulilo council officials over the land-for-vehicle deal.
He said his daughter settled an initial amount of N$200, only to be later informed she owed N$1 400, which she also paid, and that there was no outstanding municipal bill.
Solicitation
Sankwasa claimed that during a consultative meeting at the Windhoek Country Club, RedForce sought a meeting with him to maintain existing contracts and secure new ones, a request he said he had declined.
He claimed that he told the company he believed its operations were harmful to Namibians and that he would protect the public from what he described as “economic hawks”.
Sankwasa further alleged that some municipal CEOs and councillors defending RedForce’s operations were “on the payroll” of the company.
“Why fight me for issuing a directive meant to protect the citizens of Namibia? In whose interest are these CEOs and councillors acting?”
The minister also said authorities should investigate the alleged practice of Namibians marrying foreign nationals to obtain citizenship status.
He further argued that municipal service contracts are between residents and councils, not with external debt collection firms, and claimed it was illegal for a third party to disconnect water for residents who had no agreement with the company.
Defamation
Nangombe hit back, saying that Sankwasa's statements are not only false but also made with clear malice and the deliberate intention to bring her and the company's name into disrepute.
"That is defamation in its purest form, and it is unacceptable from any person, let alone a government minister,” Nangombe stressed.
She said her marriage had no bearing on the legitimacy of her company, which she underlined is 100% Namibian-owned and fully compliant with all legal and regulatory requirements.
Nangombe also clarified that the requested meeting with Sankwasa was intended to explain the company’s work and address misconceptions.
RedForce has given Sankwasa until today to retract his directive or face legal action.
Sankwasa stood firm, however, saying he refuses to withdraw it.
“I am here to serve and protect the interests of the Namibian citizens, not economic vultures. I issue directives as constitutionally empowered,” he said.
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